Terms of
Reference:
1. The Overview and Scrutiny Board will have delegated power to appoint and
disband such scrutiny panels as it thinks fit, and if appropriate after
receiving a report from a scrutiny panel, will exercise the following functions
of the Council:-
(a) On behalf of
the Council to scrutinise executive decisions.
(b) On behalf of
the Council to scrutinise recommendations by the
Executive to
the Council.
(c) Following use of the Council’s Call-in procedure to refer
back executive decisions once only, PROVIDED that the decision in
question shall not already have been actioned. References back must contain
details of the Board’s concerns together with any revisions proposed.
(d) To scrutinise the performance of Council services.
(e) To scrutinise statutory plans of the Council.
(f) To invite attendance by appropriate individuals to advise (as an ‘expert
witness’) the Board in exercising its role. Such individuals will have
expertise in the area subject to scrutiny; eg they
may be a service user or a professional in the relevant discipline.
(g) To question members of the executive relating to the scrutiny of
executive decisions and recommendations and the performance of Council
services.
(h) To question chief officers, or any other officer after consultation
with the chief officer, relating to the scrutiny of service performance and
reports on which executive decisions are based.
(i) To make recommendations to the Council on
issues arising from scrutiny of executive decisions, recommendations and
performance including for example recommendations that an area of Council
policy should be reviewed. Such recommendations must be contained in a report
which the executive will see, and have the opportunity to
comment on, in draft form before it is finalised and submitted
to Council.
(j) To monitor compliance with audit, external inspectorate reports
following their consideration and adoption by the Executive and Council.
(k) To scrutinise and monitor matters relating to
Council budgets, audit and resources issues.
(l) To refer any
significant internal control issues to the Audit Committee.
(m) To review or scrutinise the decisions made,
or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by the responsible
authorities of their crime and disorder functions, and
(n) To make reports or recommendations to the local authority with respect
to the discharge of those functions.
(o) To consider
Councillor Calls for Action.
* NB Church and
Parent Governor Co-opted Members will exercise their vote only
when the Board considers
any education-related matters.
Quorum: 4