East Suffolk Council
Scrutiny
The role and purpose of the Scrutiny Committee is to improve the delivery of public services through providing challenge both to the Cabinet and to external organisations where there are issues of public concern. The committee acts as a “critical friend” to decision makers by beneficially examining the council's priorities, key decisions and service provision to ensure they are appropriate, efficient, transparent and accountable, and in the best interests of residents.
The committee also acts as the designated Crime and Disorder Committee for the purposes of the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2006.
The functions and responsibilities are set out in further detail within the council's constitution.
Call-in of decisions
The Local Government Act 2000 introduced the power for individual members of the cabinet to make certain decision on their own. In order to balance these powers, and that of the collective Cabinet, scrutiny arrangements were introduced which included the right for councillors to call-in executive level decisions. This means that the decision may not be implemented until the Scrutiny Committee has had the opportunity to review it. It is the intention of the act that the powers to call-in a decision are used in exceptional circumstances.
Details of the call-in procedure can be found in the East Suffolk Council Constitution.
Councillor Call for Action
Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) provides councillors with the opportunity to ask for discussions at scrutiny committees on issues where local problems have arisen and where other means of resolution have been exhausted.
Any matter which is vexatious, discriminatory or not reasonable to be included for discussion at a meeting of the scrutiny committee is excluded from CCfA by statutory regulations.
Getting involved in scrutiny
If you are invited to attend a meeting of the committee, you will be contacted by a member of our Democratic Services team who will outline how the committee thinks you may be able to help with its review and the main issues which it will be examining.
The Democratic Services team will discuss with you the form that your evidence should take, for example, you may be:
- asked to give a verbal summary of an issue, which will be followed by questions from members of the committee
- asked to provide a presentation to the members of the committee which outlines the issues, followed by questions
- asked to talk about a written report you have produced, followed by questions
Questioning will be informal and aims to encourage open debate about the issue being reviewed.
If, at any point, you have queries or concerns about providing evidence to the committee, please contact the Democratic Services Team.