Overview and Scrutiny
Overview and Scrutiny Commissions are responsible for holding local decision-makers to account, reviewing the council's performance, and suggesting ways to do things better. These Commissions are led by Councillors from all local political parties: their reviews are impartial and evidence-based. Once a review is complete, the Commission produces a report with recommendations to the Cabinet about how to improve local services.
Overview and Scrutiny is not just about the Council, it's about the whole borough. The Commissions have a remit to ask questions of all public services in the borough (like local Health Services and the Police). In Hackney, Overview and Scrutiny has constructive relationships with local partners, many of whom have made changes in light of scrutiny reviews.
The Overview and Scrutiny function has specific powers relating to 'call-ins' and petitions. Further information about this is on the Overview and Scrutiny Board page.
If you can't see this presentation, the text content is all available in this pdf file: Overview and Scrutiny in Hackney (PDF, 635KB)
Information about the law relating to Overview and Scrutiny can be found in a publication called Putting It All Together written by the Centre for Public Scrutiny, and on Wikipedia.
What the Commissions are working on
Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission
The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission is nearing the end of a review of how the council supports Young Carers and how outcomes (including education and health) for these young people can be improved. This started in September 2011 and has involved meeting young carers and their parents, visiting local support services and inviting expert organisations to provide submissions. The Commission will approve the recommendations and final report of this review at the January meeting.
The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission is reviewing how the council supports Young Carers, and what respite opportunities are available to them in the borough. This started in September 2011, and will involve meeting young carers, visiting support services and inviting expert organisations to provide submissions
Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission
The Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission (CSSI) is reviewing current working arrangements and services for victims of Domestic Violence. Amongst other issues, this review is considering how effective partnership arrangements are, whether support services adequately take account of culturally specific needs, and how services are planning to mitigate the impact of the current financial restrictions.
Governance and Resources Scrutiny Commission
The Governance and Resources Scrutiny Commission is is looking at the Council's rationale for setting and amending the Fees and Charges that it has control over, and what approaches other councils take to this issue.
Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission
The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission is currently reviewing services for people with Learning Disabilities. The Council has recently started to deliver this service in a new way, so the Commission will be looking at this new approach, and how service users have been involved in its design.
Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission
The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission is finalising a review of Supporting the Local High Street, looking at how the Council works with independent businesses based on local high streets, and how Traders & Residents Associations are helping to develop their areas. It is also completing a review of Sports Participation, looking at how the council and partners will maximise the opportunities from the Olympics to get more people involved in physical activity.
Overview and Scrutiny Board
The Overview and Scrutiny Board (OSB) continues to manage the work of the five Commissions, coordinating scrutiny reviews to ensure they complement one another. The Board is also completing a new project called Cabinet Question Time, which is a way of holding Cabinet members to account.
Special projects
Occasionally the scrutiny function completes pieces of work that do not fit within the committee structure. These might be ad hoc investigations (like the review of Clissold Leisure Centre) or the recent Budget Scrutiny Task Groups. Please visit the special projects page to find out more.
Other recent work
The Overview and Scrutiny Board recently considered the implications of current central government Bills and White Papers that affect Overview and Scrutiny.
Page updated: 22 Dec 2011
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