Glossary
Below you will find a glossary of frequently used Scrutiny related terms.
Agenda
A list of reports and other items to be dealt with at a meeting
Best Value
The duty of continuous improvement for local authorities set out by the Local Government Act 1999. The Act require authorities to have a Best Value Performance Plan, which sets out how they will achieve improvements. Services are also subject to Best Value Reviews from time to time.
Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI)
A national measure of performance set by central government.
Cabinet
The Councillors responsible for advising the Mayor when making decisions, within the policy and budget framework decided by the council.
Call-In
This is a formal procedure to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review a decision of the Executive before it is implemented.
Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
An assessment and inspection programme undertaken by the Audit Commission. The CPA identifies the strengths and capacity of the Council, as well as areas where more support is needed.
Co-Opted Member
Local Authorities have general powers to include Co-opted Members on their Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny Commissions. On Education matters there are statutory Co-Optees who represent the Church of England and Catholic Dioceses, and there are Parent Governor representatives. These members are not elected members of the Authority but are members of the community with specific expertise and knowledge. A Co-Opted Member, with the exception of Statutory Education Co-Optees, has no voting rights.
Councillor
An elected representative on the council. Councillors represent the interests of the constituents who live in their ward and Hackney as a whole.
Backbench Councillor
A Councillor who is not a Member of the Cabinet.
Executive
The executive is responsible for decisions, within the framework decided by the full Council. In Hackney the Executive takes the form of a directly elected Mayor with an advisory Cabinet.
Forward Plan
The Council is required by law to publish on a regular basis a schedule of the significant, key decisions that the executive will take.
Local Government Act 2000
This Act set out new governance arrangements which included the establishment of a Scrutiny function. The Act also gave us a new power to promote the economic, social and environmental well being of their local communities.
Local Public Service Agreement
A set of performance indicators and associated targets agreed between the Council and central government departments, coordinated through the ODPM. These are usually designed to address a specific area of concern. The achievement of the targets can attract additional resources.
Local Strategic Partnership/Team Hackney
The Government requires all local authorities to develop a Local Strategic Partnership involving other local agencies (e.g. the NHS and the Police), local communities and the private sector to co-ordinate effective working at a local level.
Mayor
In Hackney, the Executive is led by a directly elected member of the council (the Mayor) who makes decisions, within the framework decided by the full Council.
Minutes
A record of decisions taken, the background papers received and reasons for the decision at all formal meetings of the council.
Performance Indicator (PIs)
A way of measuring how a service is performing against its objectives. Performance Indicators may be collected for local or national purposes.
Scrutiny Commissions
Theme-based bodies coordinated by the Overview and Scrutiny Board to review our services, to develop policies and scrutinise other local organisations, including the health service.
Page updated: 26 Jan 2008