Scrutiny committees have a statutory 'watchdog' role to ensure
that the Council carries out its responsibilities properly.
The Council introduced a new scrutiny system in September 2007
following a review of previous arrangements and has separated the
policy development function from the scrutiny function to give a
clearer focus to the scrutiny role which is based on the
following:
- Holding the
Cabinet to account.
- Performance management and review.
- Scrutinising decisions.
- Administering the call-in process.
- External scrutiny - partnership performance and other
agencies.
The Council has two scrutiny committees:
- Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee -
focused on internal management arrangements
- Community, Customers and Partners Scrutiny
Committee - externally focused on delivery of services to
the community.
Scrutinising decisions
Scrutiny committees look into decisions made by the Cabinet,
Cabinet members and Council officers to ensure that they are fair
and correct. They can
'call-in' decisions which have been made but not
yet implemented. This enables them to consider whether the decision
is appropriate and, if necessary, refer the decision back for
reconsideration.
Scrutiny committees are not decision making bodies themselves
and can only make recommendations to either the
Cabinet or the
Full Council.
Full details about the role and responsibilities
of the scrutiny committees can be found in the
Council's Constitution.
The policy development role is shared by single issue
task groups and the Policy Development Task
Group which has been set up to support the development of a wider
range of policy.