Scrutiny Work Programme

Introduction

The Scrutiny Work Programme details the planned activity to be undertaken over the coming months. The items on the work programme are determined by the Committee in line with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation (Part 3 of the Constitution) and the Scrutiny Procedures Rules. This includes provision for the rights of County Councillors to ask for any matter to be considered by a Committee or to call-in certain decisions. 

​Co-ordination of the activities of Scrutiny Committees is undertaken by the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Committees to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure that the resources of the Council are best directed to support the work of Scrutiny Committees.      

​Before an issue is added to the work programme Members should consider the prioritisation tool– asking the questions: 

• ​Whether the issue is in the public interest 
• ​Is there a change to national policy? 
• ​Does it affect people across Devon? 
• ​Are there performance or risk concerns?  
• ​Is it a safety issue? 
• ​Are people concerned about it? 
• ​Can scrutiny add value by looking at it? 
• ​Is it active?  

​The Work Programme will be broadly set once a year and then agreed by Scrutiny Committees, with enough flexibility to amend at each meeting as different priorities arise and will published on the Council’s website as soon as possible thereafter. Topics highlighted in yellow are provisional and have yet to be confirmed by the relevant Scrutiny Committee. 

​​The timescales and dates are indicative of when a Scrutiny Committee will review the item it is however possible that they may need to be rescheduled and new items added as new circumstances come to light. Please ensure therefore that you refer to the most up to date Plan.

Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services (CIRS) Scrutiny Committee

CIRS Committee Work Programme

Purpose: A formal public meeting where active items are discussed, and actions taken. Covered by the constitution.  

Open to Members of the Public, livestreamed/webcast.

Committee Date: 21 July 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Treasury Management Stewardship Annual Report 2025/26	To review treasury management activity and performance for the year, and to enable scrutiny and assurance of compliance with the approved strategy and prudential framework.	Continuous improvement of services
Locality Budgets	Annual statement on locality budgets for audit and monitoring purposes	Stronger communities and safer places / Economic inclusion and local prosperity
Report of the Standing Overview Group: Joint Adults and Children’s Systems Replacement Project		Continuous improvement of services / Positive futures for our young people / Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 24 September 2026

Item	Purpose of the Report	Alignment to Strategic Plan

Committee Date: 26 November 2026

Item	Purpose of the Report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Treasury Management – Mid-Year Report	Monitor in-year treasury performance, including borrowing, investments and financial risk, ensuring continued compliance and identifying emerging issues, including LGR implications	Continuous improvement of services
Utilities and third parties on the Highway	To assess the effectiveness of the coordination and management of utilities and third‑party works on the highway network, including their impact on residents, quality of reinstatement, and disruption, and to identify opportunities to improve performance, accountability and collaboration.	Continuous improvement of services
Pothole repair trial – Follow-Up Report	Review effectiveness, cost and scalability of the trial, identifying what has worked well and informing future highways maintenance policy and delivery approaches.	Continuous improvement of services
Rural Broadband & Connectivity Task and Finish Group	To receive the report of the Rural Broadband and Connectivity Task	Economic inclusion and local prosperity

Committee Date: 28 January 2027 (Morning Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Proposed Budget 2027/28  and Capital Programme for 2027/28 to 2031/32	Undertake pre-decision scrutiny of budget and capital proposals, challenging assumptions, affordability and alignment to strategic priorities, including readiness for LGR.	All priorities

Committee Date: 28 January 2027 (Afternoon Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Treasury Management Strategy 2027/28	Provide pre-decision scrutiny of the Treasury Management Strategy, assessing prudence, affordability and risk in the context of future organisational arrangements	Continuous improvement of services

Committee Date; 25 March 2027

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Evaluation of Community Self-Delivery (20 is Plenty / Parish Schemes)	Assess the effectiveness of community-led speed management schemes, identifying what works well and how learning can inform future policy and service delivery. In response to a Council request (September 2025 – Agenda Item 32)	Continuous improvement of services
Draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report	To review the annual report of Overview and Scrutiny	Continuous improvement of services

Potential future items

• Asset Management Plan
• Armed Forces Covenant

Children’s Scrutiny Committee

Children’s Committee Work Programme

Purpose: a formal public meeting where active items are discussed, and actions taken. Covered by the constitution.

Open to Members of the Public, livestreamed/webcast.

Committee Date: 21 September 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Children’s Transformation Programme and Performance Report	To assess performance and the impact of improvement activity, including quality of practice, workforce stability and progress against Ofsted findings.	Positive futures for our young people
Report of the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group		Positive futures for our young people
Report of the Champion against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse	To provide an update on the activities of the Committee’s Champion against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse

Committee Date: 16 November 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Inclusion and SEND: Progress and Impact Review	To assess progress against the Inclusion Strategy and SEND “Building Inclusive Communities” KPIs, including exclusions, attendance and system capacity, building on June 2026 scrutiny	Positive futures for our young people
Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report	To assess effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding, including quality of practice and progress since Ofsted monitoring.	Positive futures for our young people
Fostering Champion Update	To provide an update on the activities of the Committee’s Fostering Champion	Positive futures for our young people

Committee Date: 18 January 2027 (Morning Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
2027/28 Proposed Budget and Capital Programme	Pre-decision scrutiny. Draft budget to be formally submitted to Scrutiny	Positive futures for our young people

Committee Date: 18 January 2027 (Afternoon Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Children’s Transformation Programme and Performance Report	To assess performance against key indicators and transformation programmes, including Growing Futures and Families First, ensuring robust use of data, clear oversight of delivery and progress against improvement plans, in response to key recommendation 4 external audit findings.	Positive futures for our young people
Implementation of the SEND Reform Programme	To assess implementation of national SEND reforms and system-wide impact

Potential future items

• SEND Sufficiency Implementation Plan
• NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) with CIRS Scrutiny

Children’s Outside of Committee Work Programme

Masterclasses

Purpose: An information sharing session where issues can be presented informally to members to raise awareness and increase knowledge– open to all members of the Council.  Recorded on teams. No formal minutes or notes taken.  

None currently programmed.

Task Groups / Spotlight Reviews

Task Group: An in-depth review undertaken by a small group of Members over a number of meetings, will determine its own terms of reference and report back to public committee with recommendations. 

Spotlight Review:  A short, sharp, focussed investigation, usually undertaken on one day, will report back to public committee with recommendations.

Frequency: Determined by Committee, best practice is for a limited number to look at in depth, focussed issues e.g. max 2 per committee.

None currently programmed.

Standing Overview Group (SOG)

Purpose: A Standing Overview Group meeting takes place outside of the formal Committee, where Members discuss and review key topics. These sessions help to both develop Members knowledge and understanding of complex issues/topics but also promote good governance and accountability through Members critical friend challenge and recommendations.

Topic	Purpose	Alignment to Strategic Plan	SOG Report to Committee
Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group Meeting	Meeting of Chairs and Vice Chairs from across the Adopt South West	Positive futures for young people	September, November
Joint Adults and Children’s Systems Replacement (JACS) – Led by CIRS		Positive futures for young people	Report to CIRS Committee

Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee

Health and Adult Care Committee Work Programme

Purpose: A formal public meeting where active items are discussed, and actions taken. Covered by the constitution.

Open to Members of the Public, livestreamed/webcast.

Committee Date: 22 June 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Client Financial Services	To review the update report	Supporting independence and dignity
Dentistry	To review the latest on dentistry in Devon to include an update on dental contract reform.	Supporting independence and dignity
Compliments and Complaints Annual Report and LGSCO Annual Review Letter 2025/26	To review the Annual Report and Annual Review Letter	Supporting independence and dignity
NHS Devon ICB and RDUH Financial Pressures	To review the financial positions.	Supporting independence and dignity
Abbey Rise: Adult Social Care Visit	To review the report of the Members site visit to the Tavistock offices.	Supporting independence and dignity
Standing Overview Group – Adults Transformation Programme	To review the update from the Standing Overview Group	Supporting independence and dignity
Standing Overview Group – Quality Accounts	Devon’s NHS providers routinely deliver presentations to Members of the Standing Overview Group, on their Quality Accounts and their priorities in terms of improvement. This process informs the Quality Account statements which are produced annually by the Committee.	Supporting independence and dignity
Health and Adult Care General Update	Overview of key areas of activity including One Plan for Devon engagement and ICB organisational change, IASC Performance, Adult Safeguarding Data, and North Devon Link Centre.	Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 14 September 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Integrated Adult Social Care and CQC Inspection Report and Improvement Plan	To review the CQC inspection report alongside the improvement plan.	Supporting independence and dignity
Securing Improved Outcomes for Carers	Opportunities for Member engagement and contribution during the transition to the new approach.	Supporting independence and dignity
One Plan for Devon	To review the second engagement phase and next steps. This report will include Neighbourhood Health Framework Model and implementation of guidance.	Supporting independence and dignity
Hospital Discharge	To include the position on hospital discharge pathways, including the ‘Hospital at Home’ model, current performance, pressures, and proposed improvements across the system	Supporting independence and dignity
End of Life Care	To receive a further update on the recommendations of the 2025 Spotlight Review.	Supporting independence and dignity
Standing Overview Group: Adults Transformation Programme	To review the update from the Standing Overview Group.	Supporting independence and dignity
Health and Adult Care General Update	Overview of key areas of activity including customer feedback (Q1 2026/27); performance (Q1 report).	Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 23 November 2026

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
In Year Briefing: Integrated Adult Social Care	To review the in-year position.	Supporting independence and dignity
In Year Briefing: Public health	To review the in-year position.	Supporting independence and dignity.
Housing: Adult Social Care	Progress on the development of a Specialist and Supported Housing Strategy	Supporting independence and dignity.
Digital Inclusion	To review the One Devon Digital Strategy	Supporting independence and dignity
Substance Misuse	To include a focus on the rise in synthetic opiate deaths in the County, as well as to review alcohol related harm and the treatment / support available.	Supporting independence and dignity
Standing Overview Group – Adults Transformation Programme	To review the update from the Standing Overview Group	Supporting independence and dignity
Health and Adult Care General Update	Overview of key areas of activity including customer feedback and performance	Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 25 January 2027 (Morning Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
2027/27 Proposed budget and Capital Programme	Pre-decision scrutiny. Draft budget to be formally submitted to Scrutiny	Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 25 January 2027 (Afternoon Session)

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
One Plan for Devon	To review the latest	Supporting independence and dignity
Adult Social Care Self-Assesment	To review the latest self-assessment.	Supporting independence and dignity
Transition from Children’s Social Care to Adult Social Care Spotlight Review	To agree the final report and recommendations from the review	Supporting independence and dignity
Standing Overview Group – Adults Transformation Programme	To review the update from the Standing Overview Group.	Supporting independence and dignity
Health and Adult Care General Update	Overview of key areas of activity including customer feedback and  performance	Supporting independence and dignity

Committee Date: 22 March 2027

Item	Purpose of the report	Alignment to Strategic Plan
Standing Overview Group – Adults Transformation Programme	To review the update from the Standing Overview Group.	Supporting independence and dignity
Health and Adult Care General Update	Overview of key areas of activity including customer feedback and  performance	Supporting independence and dignity

Potential Future Items:

• Community Pharmacy
• ICB Clustering – Governance
• Teignmouth Primary Care Facility
• Digital Poverty
• Homelessness
• Adult Soical Care in Prisons
• SWASFT Fire Co-Responder Service
• Hospital Discharge Team (RDE)
• Dementia Strategy

Health and Adult Care Outside of Committee Work Programme