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.