Email: democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk
Since May 2018, the scrutiny function has been delivered through four scrutiny Committees:
- Education and Children’s Social Care
- Growth and Infrastructure
- Health and Adult Social Care
- Performance, Finance and Customer Focus
The main aim of scrutiny is to act as a 'critical friend' to the Cabinet and other decision makers in order to promote better services, policies and decisions. Working in a similar way to parliamentary select committees, scrutiny involves councillors who are not in the Cabinet.
Scrutiny makes a difference by ensuring that local decision making is enhanced, that local services are improved and that local democracy is strengthened.
Its roles include:
- advising the Council's Executive (Cabinet) on decisions it is due to take,
- holding the Executive to account by reviewing its decisions before they are implemented (this is called the 'call in process'),
- investigating and reviewing public services where Councillors have concerns about the way services are being delivered,
- ensuring decisions are being implemented in a way which meets residents' different needs,
- commenting on the work of other public services, individually and in partnership.
Scrutiny committees are not restricted to looking at council services, in fact they can look at almost any issue that has an impact on the quality of life of Plymouth residents.
How to make a request for scrutiny?
Requests for scrutiny should be emailed to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk and democratic support will ensure that Chair’s consider all requests for their forward work programme.
Cabinet Members and Senior Officers should be made aware of issues being discussed at scrutiny in line with their responsibilities.
Reports to Scrutiny
Reports to scrutiny must use the standard committee report template and have relevant signs off codes from the Finance and Legal Department. The Cabinet member must have seen any report to scrutiny in their portfolio area, even if they are unable to attend.
Timing of Reports
In order to comply with statutory legal requirements the agenda must be published with reports to be considered at least 5 clear working days ahead of the meeting, the democratic advisor will give a deadline in order to meeting the statutory requirement which allows time for quality assurance and checking that the report is in line with constitutional requirements.