Making a Difference: Scrutiny at Staffordshire County Council

The Scrutiny Process

Scrutiny reviews are carefully planned and managed by Members, with support from the Scrutiny and Performance Team, and adhere to the following framework:

The following process is adapted to suit the requirements and remit of each Scrutiny and Performance Panel/Committee.

Determining the Scrutiny Work Programme

Topic/Issue selected to be incorporated into Scrutiny Work Programmes

How can we improve service delivery or develop policy with this review?

Members discuss the issues/possible lines of enquiry/aim of the review/potential or proposed outcomes/areas for development and improvement to determine what value can be added by undertaking this review

Scoping the Review

With this discussion in mind, the Scrutiny and Performance Team supporting Manager/Officer scopes the review for Members consideration. This Scoping Report details the aim of the review, the terms of reference for the review, timescales, potential witnesses and sources of evidence. The Scoping Report is agreed at the start of the review and can be altered as new issues/themes emerge throughout the investigation

Directorate/Officer Support

Specialist officers from the relevant Council Directorates are assigned to support Members throughout the review by submitting evidence and attending meetings to answer any questions Members may have.

Gathering evidence

Qualitative or quantitative evidence gathered by site visits, public fora, desktop analysis, benchmarking, surveys etc.

Evaluating Evidence

Review and analysis of evidence gathered throughout the review, members form conclusions and recommendations to be outlined in a Final Report.

Final Report

A Final Report is produced by Members with the support of the Scrutiny and Performance Team and the findings, conclusions and recommendations are agreed before the report is presented to the relevant decision making body, which can be Council, Cabinet, Directorates or external bodies (you can access Scrutiny Final Reports in our Scrutiny Reports Library).

Consideration and Discussion

The relevant decision making body considers the Scrutiny and Performance Panels/Committees findings, conclusions and recommendations and makes a decision.

Implementation and Monitoring

If the recommendations are agreed then the relevant Panel/Committee will receive a report back to detail the next steps and timescale from the relevant directorate. If the recommendations are not accepted the Scrutiny and Performance Panel/Committee will receive an Executive/Directorate response outlining the reasons for the decision made and how the findings of the Scrutiny and Performance Panel/Committee informed the discussions of the decision making body. The Scrutiny and Performance Panels and Committees will monitor these recommendations and their implementation. Members will also monitor the outcomes of the findings of their review.

Last Modified: 23/08/2007 10:45:31
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