• The County Council structure is based on a Leader and Cabinet model

• The Council has a scrutiny process which involves committees made up of non-executive members (those not in the Cabinet)

• These committees have no decision-making powers. They act as a check and balance on the powers exercised and decisions taken by the Cabinet and also assist the Cabinet in its decision making. It does this by:

- Assisting the Cabinet in the development of policy- Monitoring performance of the Council and its partners- Examining the impact and implementation of Cabinet decisions and policies- Holding the Leader, the Cabinet and Senior Officers to account- Scrutinising external organisations who provide services to our residents

• Overview and Scrutiny Committees can also review matters of wider local concern by scrutinising other public service bodies that provide services to Leicestershire people – for example: health and economic development bodies.

What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Structure in Leicestershire

Do Don’tTry to reach a consensus Have “votes”

Be constructive and work with opposition group members

Be political

Challenge Be confrontational

Ask for evidence! Make assumptionsConsider questions in advance

and be preparedTurn up to meetings

unprepared

Be fair and inclusive Focus on individual complaints or concerns

Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings

Overview and Scrutiny Committees are formal meetings and open to the public. They function best when they are constructive and act as a “critical friend” with a focus on driving improvements in public services. See below for a guide to how to be most effective in Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings.

• Some topics need more depth which cannot be achieved at full Committee meetings and are better dealt with through Reviews

• When identifying areas for Review, use the flow chart to the right

Scrutiny Reviews

• Small panel of members (usually five) meet in public several times to look in-depth at a particular issue

• Dedicated support from officers throughout the process

• Meetings with witnesses and experts

• Drafting of Final Report by Scrutiny Officers

• A through and rigorous process but a resource intensive one!

Types of Review: Scrutiny Review Panels

• Focused around a single or narrow issue

• Led solely by one or two members

• Informal meetings held with officers to understand an issue in more detail

• Members draft a final report – with guidance available from Scrutiny Officers

• Final Report made public

Types of Review: “Light Touch” Scrutiny Reviews

• Open “workshop” setting

• Brings together all stakeholders at one meeting (usually in public)

• An opportunity for officers and members to share intelligence and ideas

• An opportunity to sort out any problems between partners at there and then – less bureaucratic

• Final Report made to a public Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Types of Review: “One Day” Scrutiny Reviews

How can the public contribute?

Attend Meetings

Submit a Petition

View Webcasts

Submit a Question

Raise an Issue with a Local

Member

Follow: @LeicsDemocracy

on Twitter

Check out:

www.leics.gov.uk/overviewandscrutiny

www.leics.gov.uk/overviewandscrutinyguide

www.leics.gov.uk/overviewandscrutiny

For further information see our full Overview and Scrutiny Guideand Web Pages

Sam WestonTel: 0116 305 6226 sam.weston@leics.gov.uk

Francesca GallTel: 0116 305 3407Francesca.gall@leics.gov.uk

Rosemary PalmerTel: 0116 305 6098rosemary.palmer@leics.gov.uk

Ben HoliheadTel: 0116 305 6339ben.holihead@leics.gov.uk

For Advice and Support on Overview and Scrutiny…

SCRUTINYCOMMISSION

SCRUTINYCOMMISSION

ADULTS ANDCOMMUNITIESADULTS AND

COMMUNITIES

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

ENVIRONMENT ANDTRANSPORT

ENVIRONMENT ANDTRANSPORT

HEALTHHEALTH

Anna RogTel: 0116 305 0455Anna.rog@leics.gov.uk