What does the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Do?

There is one Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee falls into one of these four categories:

• Major Policy Reviews
• Short-sharp Reviews
• Performance Monitoring
• Calling-in Decisions

Major Policy Reviews

The Committee delegates major policy reviews to Task and Finish Groups. These Groups carry out detailed, evidence-based assessments of Council services or issues which affect the lives of local people. During the course of a review a Task and Finish Group will speak to Council Officers, members of the Executive Committee and external witnesses to assist them in their information gathering. When the exercise is completed the Task and Finish Group will produce a report containing recommendations about how things can be improved.  This report will be considered by the overarching Overview and Scrutiny Committee who will make a decision about whether to refer these recommendations on to the Executive Committee and/or other partner agencies.

Short-Sharp Reviews

In addition to conducting in-depth policy reviews the Committee often wants to conduct a quick, one-off review of a topic.  A short-sharp review might be more appropriate if there are time constraints, or the review topic is currently in the public eye.  

Performance Monitoring

Much of the Scrutiny Committee's work involves monitoring the work of the Council; the Overview and Scrutiny Committee receives quarterly Performance Monitoring and Budgetary data from each of the four Council Directorates.

Calling-in Decisions

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is charged with ensuring that the decisions taken by the Executive are appropriate and within the Council’s policy framework and within budget. If, after a decision has been made, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or any three members of the Council feel that the decision is inappropriate they can ‘call the decision in’ to prevent the decision taking immediate effect. They can then interview the relevant Portfolio Holder or Council Officers and refer the decision back to the decision maker; this referral can include recommendations and suggestions for improvement, or may simply ask that more consultation take place before a final decision in made. Call in is only used in exceptional circumstances.

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