General
role
Within their terms of reference, scrutiny committees
will:
i) review
and/or scrutinise decisions made or
actions taken in connection with the discharge of any of the
Council’s functions;
ii) make reports
and/or recommendations to the full Council and/or the executive
and/or any committee in connection with the discharge of any
functions;
iii) consider any matter
affecting the area or its inhabitants; and
iv) exercise the
right to call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet
implemented by the executive
Specific
functions
(a) Policy
development and review –scrutiny committees
may:
i)
assist the Council and the Executive in the development of its
budget and policy framework by in-depth analysis of policy
issues;
ii) conduct research, community and
other consultation in the analysis of policy issues and possible
options;
iii) consider and implement mechanisms to encourage and enhance
community participation in the development of policy
options;
iv) question members of the Executive and/or committees, Management
Team and Service Managers about their views on issues and proposals
affecting the policy area; and
v) liaise with other external
organisations operating in the policy
area, whether national, regional or local, to ensure that the
interests of local people are enhanced by collaborative
working.
(b) Scrutiny-
the scrutiny committee may:
i)
review and scrutinise the decisions
made by and performance of the Executive and/or committees and
council officers both in relation to individual decisions and over
time;
ii) review and scrutinise the performance of the Council in
relation to its policy objectives, performance targets and/or
particular service areas;
iii) question members of the Executive and Regulatory committees,
Management Team and Service Managers about their decisions and
performance, whether generally in comparison with service plans and
targets over a period of time, or in relation to particular
decisions, initiatives or projects.
Other officers will only attend with the consent of the appropriate
Service Manager (not to be unreasonably withheld);
iv)
make recommendations to the Executive and/or
appropriate committee and/or Council arising from the outcome of
the scrutiny process including addressing any consequential
financial implications;
v) review and scrutinise the performance of other public bodies
in the area and invite reports from them by requesting them to
address the scrutiny committee and local people about their
activities and performance, including the statutory requirement to
scrutinize the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership by a
designated Scrutiny committee at least once a year i.e. the
Scrutiny Committee; and
vi) question and gather evidence from any person (with their
consent).
(c) Finance-
the scrutiny committee may exercise overall responsibility for any
finances which may be made available to it.
Annual
report- the scrutiny committee must
report annually to full Council on its workings and make
recommendations for future work programmes and amended working
methods if appropriate.