The County Council has four Overview/Scrutiny Committees.
Once policies and plans are adopted by the County Council, it is the Executive's responsibility to take the decisions needed to put them into effect.
The Overview/Scrutiny Committees monitor the effects of those decisions, examining in detail how the Council's 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.
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 made) to contribute as well.
The Overview/Scrutiny Committees have no power to make decisions or to require that others act on their suggestions, although both the Council’s Executive and NHS bodies must consider and respond to what they recommend. In health matters, the relevant scrutiny committee may refer matters 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, rural Post Offices) they can make recommendations but they cannot make the organisations they scrutinise comply with them.
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