Special projects
Occasionally the scrutiny function completes pieces of work that do not fit within the committee structure. These might like ad hoc investigations (like the review of Clissold Leisure Centre) or the recent Budget Scrutiny Task Groups.
Current projects - Budget Scrutiny Task Groups
At its meeting on 22 June 2011 the Overview and Scrutiny Board (OSB) agreed to the creation of scrutiny task groups to examine budget saving proposals and models for the future shape of council services. Under the Constitution OSB has the power to establish such Scrutiny Task Groups, which it has exercised.
It was agreed that the scrutiny task groups should focus on areas of significant spend: where there is potential to make savings of a magnitude that can contribute to the £65m required over the next three years. Members also agreed that Scrutiny Task Groups should align with ongoing officer work to generate savings proposals wherever possible.
Each Group were asked to address the following key questions about the service area which it is examining:
- Why do we provide this service (i.e. is it statutory, does it serve a greater public good through prevention, etc.)?
- How is the service provided (including: service delivery plans, staff structures, partnership arrangements, third party contracts)?
- What does the service cost to provide (including: gross budget and % of total spend, staffing and operational costs, unit costs, benchmarking data, and likely future demand)?
- What are the expectations for quality and standard of delivery (i.e. what would the implications be of reducing quality of service as a result of delivering savings)
- What are the current levels of performance and the equalities impact of the service, and how might they change?
- How has the service been provided previously (i.e. what should we not forget and what can we best learn from past experience)?
- What other services are closely related to this service area (i.e. where are there opportunities for joining-up services, and what are the dependencies and consequences of that)?
- What are the options for future delivery?
Budget Scrutiny Task Group: Central Services and Common Functions
Commission Details: membership, meetings, and contacts
The final report of this task group will be considered by OSB on 23 November 2011 and will be published on this page when ready.
Budget Scrutiny Task Group: Public Realm
Commission Details: membership, meetings, and contacts
The final report of this task group will be considered by OSB on 23 November 2011 and will be published on this page when ready.
Budget Scrutiny Task Group: Adult Social Care
Commission Details: membership, meetings, and contacts
The final report of this task group will be considered by OSB on 23 November 2011 and will be published on this page when ready.
Budget Scrutiny Task Group: Housing Maintenance
Commission Details: membership, meetings, and contacts
The final report of this task group will be considered by OSB on 23 November 2011 and will be published on this page when ready.
Previous reviews and projects
- Youth Engagement with Local Democracy in Hackney - The Young Scrutiny Group Project
- Clissold Leisure Centre (PDF)
Page updated: 22 Nov 2011
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