What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Changes in the Local Government Act 2000 required Councils to adopt new political arrangements to replace the old Committee system.  

At Redditch Borough Council, we have the Executive Committee (rather like Central Government’s Cabinet) and one Overview and Scrutiny Committee (like Central Government’s Select Committees).  

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee acts as a commissioning body and has the power to authorise policy reviews and to scrutinise issues of local interest.  In general, the Committee undertakes a couple of Major Topic Reviews a year but it may also wish to undertake smaller reviews.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has the option to break off into a smaller groups of Councillors, which are known as Task & Finish Groups, and can assign them specific review subjects.  A Task & Finish Group will generally dissolve at the end of its review.  

The Overview and Scrutiny process draws on evidence from Executive Members, Council Officers and also sources outside the Council.  In order for Overview and Scrutiny to be a success, the Council cannot work in isolation and so it calls on the expertise and knowledge of local people, service partners and community groups to ensure the Council delivers effective services.

For more information about what has been achieved in Overview and Scrutiny at the Council this year please read the Committee's Annual Report  (1.76 MB)