Overview and Scrutiny Committee

There are 3 Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs) who support and initiate decision making processes in the production and development of the Council Policy and Budgetary Framework. A primary function of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees is to engage and empower the people to have a greater say in Council matters by attending their meetings and giving their voice a forum. The Overview and Scrutiny Committees will also hold public investigations into matters of local peoples concerns. These lead to the production of reports and recommendations that advise Council. OSCs can also monitor the decisions of the Cabinet prior to a decision, during a decision, and after a decision . They can ‘call-in’ a decision which has been made by the Cabinet. This enables them to consider whether the decision has taken into account all appropriate matters and processes.  The work plans for the various committees can be view or downloaded below.

 

The Council has people working for it (‘officers’) that give advice, implement decisions and manage the day-to-day delivery of its services. Some officers have a specific duty to ensure that the Council acts within the law and engages with local people when using its resources. These officers are usually asked to support the roles of Overview and Scrutiny. The roles of Overview and scrutiny are:

The Overview and Scrutiny system aims to support the Council and the people in making their Vision a reality and achieving the agreed aims and key priorities, such as, those in the Community Plan. Its purpose is to examine how well the authority is performing, adopting a ‘Critical Friend’ relationship with those with whom it engages in Overview and Scrutiny concentrating on added value and quality outcomes for the local people. It is a powerful tool in supporting the Council’s community leadership role, by reviewing matters of concern to the local people, and getting local and national: public agencies, corporations, and voluntary organisations involved in its work.

 

Its focus should be on outcomes from the local peoples perspective rather than day to day operational service matters.

 

Members involved in the work of Overview and Scrutiny will work to promote an open and transparent Council and drive forward democratic accountability.

 

Overview and Scrutiny offers local people a direct route to get involved in the work of the Council by holding investigations into matters of public concern which could lead to reports and recommendations advising the Cabinet on any matter.

 

Overview and Scrutiny consists of 3 Scrutiny Committees, whose role is to check and balance the performance of the Council and to scrutinise any issues affecting the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. This is achieved by regularly checking the decision making process and reviewing existing polices, procedures and practices, as well as proposing new policies. This process supports the Council's desire to continually improve its services.

 

The agenda is quite different and councillors may now decide on the areas that they wish to review and challenge.

 

The OSCs may meet in an informal atmosphere.

The OSCs may invite those who it believes can help with their investigations to give evidence.

The OSCs may invite members of the public attending its meetings to participate in asking questions.

The New Political Arrangements introduced under the Local Government Act 2000 meant that the decision making functions of the Council were allocated to the leader of the council and Cabinet Members, either individually or collectively, as well as the Council itself (which sets the Policy and Budgetary Framework). It is an important function of Overview and Scrutiny to oversee these decisions to ensure that they are open, transparent, and being made in the local peoples interest. Overview and Scrutiny can put forward their own ideas/recommendations for improvements, and influence the decisions being made.

 

They do not consider individual complaints. Although they may consider patterns of complaints that affect more than just one individual. The OSCs are primarily concerned with the wider issues of affecting the local people. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council already has a complaints procedure in place, which the OSCs may review.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny arrangements at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council encourages local people proactively and it is committed to being transparent, open and accessible. Its OSCs meet regularly and any members of the public can attend by just turning up. It provides an opportunity for your views and opinions to be considered. If you are interested in a particular item and wish to speak at a committee, you must contact the officer responsible for the agenda with reasonable notice before the meeting.