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What is Overview and Scrutiny?
Since 2000, legislation has required the Council's political management arrangements to have a distinction between the Cabinet's role in proposing and implementing policies, and the role of non-executive councillors in reviewing policy and scrutinising decisions of the Cabinet. This later role is known as 'overview and scrutiny'.
On your behalf, this role provides those councillors, not on the Council's Cabinet, with the opportunity and responsibility to:
How is Overview and Scrutiny organised in Elmbridge?
There are three Overview and Scrutiny Committees covering different areas of Council policy:
There are 13 councillors on each committee - any councillor is able to sit on the committees, except for members of the Cabinet and no councillor can be involved in scrutinising a decision with which he/she has been directly involved.
The committees are scheduled to meet five times a year and the public are welcome to attend any committee meeting, although they may be excluded on occasions where specific exempt items are to be discussed. Meetings are usually held in the Civic Centre in Esher, and the |calendar of meetings is available online.
The detailed arrangements regarding the operation of overview and scrutiny can be found in the Council's Constitution.
Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes
Each committee sets its own work programme for the year. In addition to formal committee meetings, the committees can also set up smaller time-limited task groups to undertake dedicated reviews of specific issues. There is also a Standing Finance Panel involving members of all three committees to ensure that effective use is made of the Council's resources by providing constructive challenge on the setting of the Council's budget and other related financial matters. All of the committee chairmen and vice-chairmen meet regularly to ensure that there is co-ordination between the different work programmes.
Overview and scrutiny committees are not decision-making bodies in their own right, so after forming their conclusions they submit recommendations to the Cabinet, or other organisations as appropriate. The power of overview and scrutiny lies in raising awareness of important issues and placing influence on others to take action in certain ways.
Recommendations are strengthened by a good supporting evidence base. The committees gather 'evidence' in a variety of different ways, including asking council officers and cabinet members questions; going on site visits;and commissioning research. They may also speak to relevant external organisations and members of the public - service users, service providers, potential users and providers, non-users and experts. If you live and/or work in the borough you may well be asked to give us your views.
Read our |Guide for those attending Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meetings.
Read our |Guide for those attending Overview and Scrutiny Task Group Meetings.
What have we achieved?
The process of overview and scrutiny should encourage a more reflective, evaluative and evidence-based approach to decision-making; and its benefits can include improved service performance, better policy making, opportunities for input from external and independent expertise, enhanced democracy and inclusiveness in decision making.
Every year an Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report is produced to provide a summary of what we have done this year; and how the process can be improved in future years. The |Annual Report 2007-2008 is available online and hard copies, and copies of previous Annual Reports, are available from the Overview and Scrutiny Manager.
One of the key roles for overview and scrutiny is to reflect the issues that the people who live and work in the borough are concerned about. Having read what we have worked on this year, we want you to tell us what you think we should be focusing on in the future. You can submit your comments and suggestions via our |suggestions form.
If you would like further information about overview and scrutiny please contact the |Overview and Scrutiny Manager.