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 Chair shall be a member of the Opposition and
the Vice Chair a member of the Administration.
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.
