The
Scrutiny Committee supports the work of the Cabinet and the Council
as a whole. The Scrutiny Committee has no
decision-making powers and cannot scrutinise individual regulatory
or quasi-judicial issues. Its function is to raise issues for
consideration, to examine and scrutinise matters of community
interest, to hold the Cabinet to account, and to represent the
interests and views of the public. Where
appropriate, joint reviews will be undertaken with other
organisations.
Terms of reference
1.
To provide the main forum for the Council’s internal
and external scrutiny work, focusing on activities that improve
outcomes for local people.
2.
To approve an annual overview and scrutiny work
programme, including the programme of any
task and finish groups appointed so as to ensure that the
Committee’s and task and finish groups' time is effectively
and efficiently utilised.
3.
To ensure that referrals from the Scrutiny Committee to the
Cabinet, either by way of report or for reconsideration, are
managed efficiently.
4.
At the request of the Cabinet to make recommendations about
the priority of referrals if the volume of such reports creates
difficulty for the management of Cabinet business or jeopardises the efficient running of Council
business.
5.
To receive and action requests from the Cabinet and/or the
Council for reports.
6.
To have the powers in relation to Cabinet decisions made
but not implemented as set out in Section 21(3) of the Local
Government Act 2000 (as amended).
7.
To have the power to investigate any matters it considers
relevant to its work area, and to make recommendations to the
Council, the Cabinet or any other Committee or Sub-Committee of the
Council as it sees fit.
Chairing
1.
Full Council shall appoint the Chair and the Vice Chair of
the Committee.
2.
The Chairshall be a member of
the Administration and the Vice Chair a member of the
Opposition.
The Scrutiny Committee has one permanent Sub-Committee (the
Call-In Sub-Committee) which will carry out the internal scrutiny
functions of the Scrutiny Committee. This Sub-Committee will be
chaired by the Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee:
Meetings are open to members of
the public, except for when confidential information is being
considered.
Members of the public can
ask questions at
meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.