Scrutiny at Staffordshire County Council: The Scrutiny Process

Work Programmes

At the beginning of every year each Scrutiny Committee considers what issues they will look at during the year. The work programme gives focus and structure to scrutiny activity, helping the Committees to support and challenge the Cabinet's decision-making.

Scrutiny Committees take into account the views of a range of stakeholders when developing the work programme, including those of Cabinet Members, partnerts, officers and the public.

The work programmes are flexible and may be reviewed and updated throughout the year to reflect emerging issues.

Delivery

Scrutiny work takes place in meetings of the Committees or may be allocated, by the Corporate Review Committee, to one of the Portfolio Advisory Groups which look at specific policy areas in detail. The Scrutiny Annual Report provides a summary of the work undertaken by the Committees each year, with a focus on how they have contributed to the achievement of Staffordshire County Council's priorities.

Among the items that Members regularly receive at Scrutiny Committee meetings are:

Cabinet Members Progress Report

These reports provide a summary of decisions that have been taken at Cabinet and issues relevant to the delivery of their portfolios, together with a summary of areas that the Cabinet will consider in the near future.

Performance Management Reports

The Corporate Review Committee is responsible for scrutinising the County Council's progress in delivering its priorities. Quarterly performance reports are provided to the Committee to enable them to undertake this role. The Committee can identify areas that they wish to investigate further and/or recommend that another Scrutiny Committee investigate a particular performance matter.

Scrutiny Reviews

One of the key roles of the Scrutiny Committees is to make recommendations to the Cabinet, officers or partners that will lead to improvements in the services delivered to the people of Staffordshire.

Scrutiny Committees will undertake investigations into service and policy areas which are within their remit. In doing this they may:

hear from external witnesses;
invite reports from officers working for the County Council or partners;
ask questions of the relevant Cabinet Members;
ask members of the public and service users for their views;
research best practice at other local authorities / organisations.

Once an investigations is complete the Scrutiny Committee will send their conclusions and recommendations to the relevant body / individual. The recommendations will be considered by that body/individual who will report back to the Committee setting out an action plan for the implementation of agreed recommendations and an explanation for any recommendations which are not agreed. The Committee will monitor the implementation of all recommendations.

Last Modified: 03/07/2009 13:35:09
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