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: 29 April 2026
| Item | Purpose of the report | Alignment to Strategic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Libraries | Following the consultation and ahead of the Cabinet decision regarding Libraries in April | Continuous improvement of services / Economic inclusion and local prosperity / Stronger communities and safer places |
Committee Date: 21 July 2026
| Item | Purpose of the report | Alignment to Strategic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury Management Stewardship Annual Report 2025/26 | 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 |
CIRS 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.
Potential future items include: Asset Management Plan.
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.
Potential future items include: Asset Management Plan.
| Topic | Purpose | Alighnment to Strategic Plan | Report to Committee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme | To ensure use of the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is maximised for its potential to improve broadband access in hard-to-reach areas | Economic inclusion and local prosperity | November 2026 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Adults and Children’s System Replacement Programme | To increase awareness and understanding of, and maintain oversight of the Joint Children and Adults systems replacement project. | Positive futures for young people / Supporting independence and dignity / Continuous improvement of services | January 2026, June 2026 |
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: 8 June 2026
| Item | Purpose of the report | Alignment to Strategic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion, Exclusion, and Attendance of vulnerable young people | Positive futures for our young people | |
| Children’s Social Care Performance Report and Transformation Programme | Positive futures for our young people |
Committee Date: 21 September 2026
| Item | Purpose of the report | Alignment to Strategic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Children’s Safeguarding Partnership: Mid-Year Report | Positive futures for our young people | |
| Report of the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group | Positive futures for our young people |
Potential future items
- Reform of the SEND system
- Children’s Social Care reforms
- Inclusion and Learning Strategy
- Education Annual Report
- Voice of Children, Young People, Families and Carers
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 |
| OFSTED Annual Conversation / Safe Evaluation | Positive futures for young people | ||
| Annual reports – EHE/CME, DiAS, Fostering Services | Positive futures for young people |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CQC Inspection Report and Improvement Plan | To review the CQC inspection report alongside the improvement plan. | 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 | To review the Annual Report 2025/26 | Supporting independence and dignity |
| Health and Adult Care General Update | Overview of key areas of activity including NHS budget. performance, IASC customer feedback, Adult Safeguarding Data, North Devon Link Centre. | Supporting independence and dignity |
| NHS Devon ICB and RDUH Financial Pressures | To review the financial positions. | 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 |
| Standing Overview Group: Adults Transformation Programme | To review the update from the Standing Overview Group | 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 |
Committee Date: 14 September 2026
| Item | Purpose of the report | Alignment to Strategic Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Social Care in Prisons | To consider the support provided to prisoners in Devon with a social care need along with their transition arrangements when they are released from prison. | 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 |
| 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 |
Potential Future Items:
- Community Pharmacy
- NHS Devon Commissioning Plan
- Social Worker Recruitment and Retention
- Teignmouth Primary Care Facility
- Digital Poverty
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- SWASFT Fire Co-Responder Service
- Hospital Discharge Team
- Dementia Strategy
Health and Adult Care 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.
| Masterclass Date | Item | Alignment to Committee Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February 2026 | Mental Capacity | 23 March 2026 |
| 26 February 2026 | Learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews | 23 March 2026 |
| 10 March 2026 | Hospital Discharge | 23 March 2026 |
Potential future items:
- Unpaid Carers / Devon Carers
- Understanding the health needs of the population
- Healthwatch – their coproduction work and how they hear the voice of hard-to-reach groups
- Adult Social Care funding and spend nationally
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.
| Title | Chair and Membership | Start Date | Final Report Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitions (Preparing for Adulthood) | Cllr Bailey / Committee | October 2025 | 23 March 2026 |
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.
| SOG Date | Purpose | Alignment to Strategic Plan | SOG Report to Committee |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBC | Health and Adult Social Care Data (to include Compliments and Complaints) | Supporting independence and dignity | TBC |
| TBC | IASC Transformation Partner (Newton) | Supporting independence and dignity | TBC |
| TBC | Quality Accounts | Supporting independence and dignity | TBC |