Committee details

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has the following functions:

(a)           Discharge the statutory functions granted to the Committee by Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, plus consideration of any matter referred to it under Section 21A, plus any powers and functions conferred under Sections 21A, 21B and 21D of the Local Government Act 2000;

(b)           To review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge of any functions which are the responsibility of the Executive.

(c)            To make reports or recommendations to the authority or the Executive with respect to the discharge of any functions which are the responsibility of the Executive;

(d)           Pursuant to the requirements of the Police and Justice Act 2006 (as amended) review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by the Council and other bodies and persons responsible for crime and disorder strategies for the area or in relation to a local crime and disorder matter, and to make reports or recommendations to the Council for the discharge of those functions, and arrange for copies of any report to be sent to those bodies and persons responsible for crime and disorder strategies for the area (and such other co-operating persons and bodies as it thinks appropriate);

(e)           To consider a local crime and disorder matter, (including in particular forms of crime and disorder that involve anti-social behaviour or adversely affecting the local environment, or the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances), referred to it by any member of the Council or by Executive pursuant to the requirements of the Police and Justice Act 2006 (as amended);

(f)             Question members of the Executive and/or Committees and/or officers about their views on issues and proposals affecting the area and to make reports or recommendations to the authority or the Executive on matters which affect the authority's area or the inhabitants of that area;

(g)           Liaise with external organisations operating in the area, whether national, regional or local, to ensure that the interests of local people are enhanced by collaborative partnership working;

(h)           Conduct research, community and other consultation in the analysis of policy issues and possible options;

(i)             Consider mechanisms to encourage and enhance community participation in the development of policy options;

(j)             Consider the impact of policies to assess if they have made a difference;

(k)           To consider the Forward Plan and comment as appropriate prior to any decision being made;

(l)             Consider reports relating to the authority’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) (RIPA);

(m)        To review performance against the Council’s agreed objectives / priorities and scrutinise the performance of the Council in relation to its policy objectives, performance targets and/or service areas. To consider risk to the achievement of those objectives/ priorities. To make recommendations to the Executive;

(n)           Receive a referral from any member of the Committee, relevant to the functions of the Committee;

(o)           To appoint time limited Rapid Reviews and/or Task and Finish Groups to undertake detailed scrutiny work report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to make recommendations to the Executive;

(p)           To scrutinise decisions prior to implementation in accordance with the Council's adopted call-in procedure (as detailed below)

(q)           Consider reports relating to the authority’s safeguarding responsibilities

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings are webcast here.