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Overview/Scrutiny Committees
SCRUTINY
Devon has four Overview/Scrutiny Committees, involving a total of 45 County Councillors and 14 co-opted members:
| Remit | |
| Policy & Resources (membership) | To review the implementation of existing policies and consider the scope for new policies for all aspects of the Council’s use and management of its resources and to discharge its functions in the scrutiny of authorities responsible for crime and disorder strategies. |
| Environment, Economy & Culture (membership) | To review the implementation of existing policies and to consider the scope for new policies for the discharge of the Council’s functions concerning the environment, economic activity, libraries and cultural heritage of the County. |
| Children & Young People’s Services (membership) | To review the implementation of existing policies and to consider the scope for new policies for all aspects of the discharge of the Council’s functions concerning children and young people. |
| Health & Adults’ Services (membership) | To review the implementation of existing policies and to consider the scope for new policies for all aspects of the discharge of the Council’s functions concerning adult social care and community learning, and to discharge its functions in the scrutiny of health services. |
What Overview/Scrutiny Committees do
They monitor how the Executive puts the Council’s policies into effect, examining in detail how the goals are being met and making recommendations for change and improvement.
They can "call in" a decision which has been made by the Executive but not yet implemented. This enables them to consider whether the decision is appropriate and they may recommend that the Executive reconsiders it.
They may also be consulted by the Executive or the Council about forthcoming decisions or the development of policy.
Apart from the Council’s own services, the committees also have the power to look into the provision of health services and issues which affect the economic, social or environmental well being of the County.
Legislation passed in 2007 will also give the committees a role in scrutinising how well the Council and its partners are fulfilling local improvement targets and crime and disorder strategies.
The committees publish an annual report in May/June each year, detailing what they have done over the past 12 months and how their recommendations have been received.
Getting Involved
You don’t need to be a councillor to get involved in scrutiny...
Power
Overview/Scrutiny Committees have a legal power to call executive councillors, the Council's officers and NHS officials to give evidence and also to see Council and NHS files and documents on the issues they are investigating. Other people can be invited (but not required) to contribute as well.
The Overview/Scrutiny Committees have no power to make decisions or to make others act on their suggestions, although the Council’s Executive, Local Area Agreement Partners and NHS bodies must consider and respond to what has been recommended. In health matters, the relevant scrutiny committee can refer things direct to the Secretary of State without needing approval from the Executive or the full Council.
Again, when looking into other issues that affect the economic, social or environmental well-being of the county (e.g. flood prevention, climate change, the Post Office network, manufacturing industry) they can make recommendations but they cannot make other organisations or companies comply with them.
