Introduction

Overview and Scrutiny  is part of the new way that local government works and is at the heart of a Councillor’s role as an elected representative. You can find out here about Babergh’s two Overview and Scrutiny Committees as well as how you can get involved in their work.

What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Councillors who are not on the Strategy Committee can be appointed to one of the two Overview and Scrutiny Committees established by the Council in order to scrutinise policies and the services provided for residents.

The Committees conduct their meetings in public at which policy and performance issues of importance to the Council are debated. Overview and Scrutiny Councillors take a close look at specific policies or service areas and make recommendations for improvements to the Strategy Committee and the Council based on the evidence that they have collected.

Overview and Scrutiny takes a strategic view of the Council's services and, by ensuring that important decisions are examined in public, helps to make the Council's governance processes transparent. 

The role of Scrutiny

By taking a detailed look at the Council’s policies Overview and Scrutiny works to ensure and promote open and transparent decision making and democratic accountability. It also seeks to encourage greater public involvement in the Council’s affairs and to develop more knowledgeable relationships with partner organisations by involving them in the Committees’ work.

Another main area of work for Overview and Scrutiny Committees is to hold the Strategy Committee to account. The Committees examine decisions made by the Strategy Committee and also have the power, under certain circumstances, to “call-in” a decision before it is implemented. They can then suggest to the Strategy Committee that it reconsider its decision. 

Overview and Scrutiny Reviews

What are Overview and Scrutiny Reviews?

Overview and Scrutiny Reviews are time limited, in-depth investigations of particular issues.

As part of a review oral and/or written evidence can be obtained from key stakeholders. The Committee will also consider current performance and research best practice by other service providers. It may talk to policy makers, service managers and consumers and take a look at service delivery on the ground, to develop recommendations for service improvement.

When the Review is completed the Committee will agree upon its conclusions and recommendations and outline these in a report, which will then be submitted to the Strategy Committee to respond. 

How are Review Topics Selected?

Overview and Scrutiny aims to consider topics that relate to the Council’s priorities for community well-being and service improvement. The intention is to concentrate on areas where there is an identified need for improvement and development, either in terms of Government targets, local objectives or concerns expressed by citizens.

Each Overview and Scrutiny Committee decides upon its Work Plan accordingly, subject to the agreement of the full Council. The Plan has some flexibility to allow for other topics to be added during the year.

How to get involved in Overview and Scrutiny

Babergh District Council wants Overview and Scrutiny to be open and accessible.  People can get involved by contributing oral or written evidence to a Review or by being invited to participate in a Review as a co-opted member of the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  People can also submit topics for consideration as the subject of a future Review.

If you want to get involved, or would simply like to know more about Overview and Scrutiny, see below for how to contact us–