Role of each Committee
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) acts as the managing and co-ordinating body of the scrutiny function of the Council. It is responsible for drawing up programmes of work for the two review Committees, in consultation with the relevant Committee and Cabinet. These programmes of work will be wide-ranging and place emphasis on the needs of the community and the work of the Council. They will not generally involve detailed analysis of current work of the Council. In addition, it will review the Cabinet's proposed annual and periodic Forward Programmes and has the right to question the Cabinet about these.
Policy Review Committee
The main role of this Committee is to examine the issues which affect communities, the impact of existing policies and propose new policies. The Committee will undertake a programme of investigations which contribute to new policy development and recommend changes to the existing strategic policy framework. It is not expected that the Committee will complete more than one or two main reviews per year.
Service Review Committee
The role of this Committee is to examine the way in which the Council works and carries out its day to day business. They monitor policy implementation and oversee review. They will monitor major projects and may have members on individual project boards.
The Committee is also responsible for reviewing service delivery issues at the strategic level. They will scrutinise service and business plans and examine whether the Council's arrangements with suppliers and partners deliver services as they should. They will keep the Council's procurement strategy under review and report on its relevance and effectiveness from time to time.
The Committee will undertake an annual review of the Cabinet's budget proposals. They will also monitor annual accounting close down procedures and out-turn and monitoring quarterly progress with budgets.
It is anticipated that as well as seeking the advice and views of non-council individuals on specific issues, both Committees will seek to co-opt a number of external advisers to participate in their work.
It is intended that when conducting a review the Committees will seek to co-opt appropriate members of the public and local communities as well as other public sector bodies. The Committees will seek evidence from as many sources as it considers appropriate, taking the broadest possible view of the matter under discussion.
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