How do we know that these decisions are right?
The day-to-day decisions made by the Cabinet have to be in line with the council's budget and policies. If it wishes to make a decision which is outside the
budget or policy framework, this must be referred to the full council.
As well as the decisions made by the Cabinet as a whole each Cabinet member has a portfolio - a responsibility for a particular area of the council's work. They have the authority to make detailed decisions on matters within their portfolio.
All decisions taken either collectively by the Cabinet or by a Cabinet member through a delegated decision can be challenged by all councillors through a process known as call-in.
After every Cabinet meeting the decisions they make are published and sent to all councillors who have three working days to call-in these decisions.
Find out more about the call-in process.
The same procedure applies to delegated decisions made by individual Cabinet members.
Scrutiny helps the council review decisions and policies and question whether they are right for the area. It monitors the council's own achievements against its planned targets. It enables reviews to be carried out in relation to services provided by other public organisations on issues of public concern. In undertaking these roles, scrutiny aims to engage service users and the wider public.
The scrutiny process provides the opportunity for councillors to examine services provided, to ask questions on how decisions have been made, to consider whether service improvements can be put in place and to make recommendations.
Members of the scrutiny committees and panels can assist in developing the council's objectives through their work programme. Meetings could be held in venues such as schools, libraries and community centres, as well as in Council offices, to help engage service users and members of the public.
Scrutiny committees and panels will conduct reviews in order to make recommendations for the Cabinet to consider. Committee and Panel chairmen, should promote discussions between members and invited guests who may be service users or external/internal experts who can offer advice to a review/or Committee meeting.
Aims for Scrutiny
Effective scrutiny should:-
Last Modified:
07/05/2008 11:54:55
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