Overview and Scrutiny

1
Overview and Scrutiny

• Functioning Scrutiny
• Chesterfield Borough Council
• Anita Cunningham, Policy and Scrutiny Officer
• Chesterfield Borough Council
• Presentation to East Midlands Councils
• Scrutiny Network, 12 December 2014

2
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• External Review 2010/11

• Current arrangements introduced following INLOGOV
  external review in 2010
• Constitution and Scrutiny Procedure Rules
  overhauled and the following new arrangements
  adopted 2011 subject to annual evaluation and
  review.

3
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• External Review Recommendations/Outcomes
• New Structure aligned to Corporate Priorities
• Scrutiny Link Officers
• Pre-agenda Meetings
• Fully Scoped Scrutiny Reviews
• Additional 0.5FTE Scrutiny Officer
• More accessible Scrutiny Protocols
• Member/Officer development on role of Scrutiny
• Executive inviting Scrutiny to look at certain
  issues
• Forward Plan Pre-decision/Pro-active Scrutiny
• Some reports to Full Council
• Informal Scrutiny / Executive Cllr meetings

4
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Structure3 OSCs
aligned to Executive Remits
5
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Scrutiny Project Groups (time limited)
• All OSCs can appoint Scrutiny Project Groups
• SPGs - at least 3 members
• SPGs - can include any council member or officer
• OSC will agree remit / membership / duration /
  reporting back procedures / private (by default)
  or public status.

6
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Protocols and Scoping Documents
• New Constitutional Scrutiny Procedure Rules
• New Call-in Rules
• Handbook (internal) for Effective Scrutiny
• Guidance for Scrutiny Project Groups
• SPG Brief / Scoping Proforma
• Standard SPG Report Format
• Other optional proformas available, ie project
  plan

7
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Support and Resourcing
• Policy and Scrutiny Officer (Policy Section,
  Business Transformation Directorate)
• Advice and development for overview and scrutiny
  function / horizon scanning.
• Work Programme and Monitoring management /
  co-ordination.
• Scrutiny and Committee Co-ordinators (Governance
  Directorate)
• Support scrutiny work (including scrutiny project
  / policy development groups), scrutiny committee
  arrangements / support.
• Scrutiny Link Officers (all directorates /
  services)
• Act as communication / information conduit
  between scrutiny and service areas.
• Service Officers and Managers
• To produce information, documents and specialist
  service knowledge requested by scrutiny.

8
Functioning Overview and ScrutinyScrutiny Link
Officer
9
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Pre Agenda Meetings
• Informal discussion to agree scrutiny needs /
  papers for the committee meeting.
• Not a pre run of the committee meeting.
• Involves Service Manager / Officer, Scrutiny
  Chair and Policy Scrutiny Officer.

10
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• External Review Recommendations/Outcomes
• New Structure aligned to Corporate Priorities
• Scrutiny Link Officers
• Pre-agenda Meetings
• Fully Scoped Scrutiny Reviews
• Additional 0.5FTE Scrutiny Officer
• More accessible Scrutiny Protocols
• Member/Officer development on role of Scrutiny
• Executive inviting Scrutiny to look at certain
  issues
• Forward Plan Pre-decision/Pro-active Scrutiny
• Some reports to Full Council
• Informal Scrutiny / Executive Cllr meetings

11
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Collaborative Scrutiny
• Joint Overview Scrutiny Panel with North East
  Derbyshire and Bolsover District Councils ?
• Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Scrutiny
  Committee ?
• Potential Derbyshire Combined Authority Scrutiny
  Committee ?
• Health ?
• Police and Crime Panel ?

12
Functioning Overview and Scrutiny

• Questions
• and
• discussion ..