Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman: |Councillor Alan Hopkins

Vice-Chairman: |Councillor Barry Cheyne

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee can review and scrutinise any matters which affect the Council, its area or the inhabitants of that area providing greater transparency and accountability in the delivery of services locally.

The public are welcome to attend any committee meeting. Meetings are usually held in the Civic Centre in Esher and start 7.45pm. View the |calendar of meetings.

Date of next meeting: 14 June 2012

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has 16 members.

Any councillor is able to sit on the Committee, except for members of the Cabinet and no councillor can be involved in scrutinising a decision with which he/she has been directly involved. |See further details on the membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The detailed arrangements regarding the operation of overview and scrutiny can be found in the Council's Constitution.

Further background information is also available - |What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Overview and scrutiny work programme

At its first meeting of the Municipal Year, the Committee agrees its intended work programme. This work programme is subject to amendment throughout the year as relevant issues arise.

In addition to discussion at formal meetings, the Committee can also set up smaller time-limited task and finish groups to review in depth and complex issues in a more informal way. In 2011/12, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee set up two task and finish groups. The first to review the Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership and the second to consider the implications of the Localism Act on the Council. The work of the latter is currently ongoing.

How to have your say

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. 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 |online suggestions form.

What has overview and scrutiny achieved in Elmbridge?

Overview and scrutiny should encourage a more reflective evidence-based approach to decision-making.

The benefits of overview and scrutiny include:

• greater transparency and accountability;
• improved efficiency and service performance;
• better policy making;
• opportunities for input from external and independent experts; and
• enhanced democracy and inclusiveness in decision making.

Every year an Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report is produced to provide a summary of what has been achieved throughout the year; and how the process can be improved in future years. The Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2011/12 is |available to view.

If you would like further information about overview and scrutiny please contact the |Policy Manager.