Overview and Scrutiny

What is Scrutiny?

To understand the scrutiny process, you need to know how the Council makes decisions. In 2000, Councils adopted a new way of making decisions so that people can see clearly who is responsible for taking them. There are three bodies within the Council that can make decisions.

Council - Any decision which changes the way the Council will do things, or will cost more than the budget allocation, needs to be agreed at a meeting of Full Council. All Councillors and the Mayor are entitled to attend and vote at these meetings.

Cabinet - Once Council has agreed these arrangements, it is up to the Cabinet to carry out the day to day running of the Council. The Cabinet is responsible for making sure that people receive the services that Council has agreed. Cabinet is chaired by the Mayor, who also chooses which Councillors will be Cabinet Members.

Regulatory - The Council has other Committees which make decisions on planning and licensing applications, and on the standards to be maintained in the Council. Committees ensure that these decisions will be in line with the overall policy agreed by the Council.

Where does Scrutiny fit in?

Scrutiny Commissions are responsible for ensuring the Cabinet does its job. They also look at how the Council and its partner organisations could improve the services that they provide to the people of Hackney.

Commissions can conduct investigations into areas of policy, taking into consideration the views of local people, or experts in an area. They can then recommend changes if they think that there are better ways of doing things.

What Scrutiny is not

Unlike the decision-making bodies, such as Cabinet and Council, and quasi-judicial committees, such as the Planning Sub-Committee or the Licensing Committee, Scrutiny Commissions cannot enforce their policy recommendations. Instead they help shape Executive decisions through undertaking in-depth analysis and providing clear guidance on relevant issues.

In addition, Scrutiny is non-adversarial and non-partisan, and it is this collaborative and objective approach which allows Commissions to both challenge and advise the Executive in an effective manner.

Find out more

Background
How does Scrutiny Function?
Overview and Scrutiny Team
Decision-making Process
Principles of Good Scrutiny
Council Constitution
Call-in Procedure
Glossary
FAQs
Useful Links

Contact us

For more information please tel 020 8356 3441 or email scrutiny@hackney.gov.uk

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Page updated: 29 Jan 2008