What is Scrutiny?
Our vision is to be a high performing Council, working in partnership to create a good quality of life for all Taunton Deane residents. Effective overview and scrutiny (“Scrutiny”) is integral to delivering our vision.
Scrutiny can consider any issue that has an effect on the people who live in, work in or visit Taunton Deane. This covers everything from how your Council Tax is spent right down to issues that only affect a tiny corner of the borough.
We want Scrutiny to improve accountability, strengthen the democratic process, help develop policy, and address the concerns and needs of local people.
Our Objectives
The 4 Objectives of Scrutiny
- To ensure that the council is publicly accountable for what it does
- To oversee council performance and drive improvement
- To reflect the hopes and needs of local people
- To challenge and examine the way things are done, and recommend improvements
What Does Scrutiny Look At?
Issues Raised by Councillors and the Public
Scrutiny must be responsive to the needs and concerns of the public. As representatives of their constituents, Councillors can introduce topics that are of concern to the public.
Council Policy, Strategy, and Performance
The Scrutiny panels receive a lot of reports and information. Councillors also receive Information Reports to keep them updated on what the Council is doing. Scrutiny cannot work unless Councillors are kept informed. The Scrutiny Forward Plan contains all the items that the panels will consider at meetings
“Well-being” Issues
Scrutiny Panels have a wide remit to identify, discuss, understand and resolve problems that residents and stakeholders deal with. They can look at anything they feel is relevant to the lives and well-being of anyone who works in, lives in or visits Taunton Deane. This includes looking at the work of non-Council organisations that deliver public services.
How We Do Overview and Scrutiny?
We currently have two Scrutiny panels: a “Strategy and Performance Panel” and an “Overview and Scrutiny Board” who carry out our Scrutiny function. We also have regular briefings and presentations, and do a large number of Task and Finish Reviews. A short explanation of where Scrutiny gets done is given below.
The Overview and Scrutiny Board
The Overview and Scrutiny Board is responsible for;
- Scrutiny of the Executive Forward Plan
- Scrutiny of the Budget
- Looking at topics brought forward by the public or Councillors
- Setting up sub-groups to look at one-off issues
- Scrutiny of the Council’s partnerships
- Call-in of any major Council decision needing further consideration
- Co-ordination of Task and Finish reviews.
- Workplans of the Council’s departments
- Any reports or issues that will go before the Executive or Full Council.
The Performance and Strategy Panel
This Panel is responsible for;
- Scrutiny of all aspects of the Council’s performance
- Scrutiny of new and current Council Strategy
Task and Finish Reviews
Task and Finish Reviews are specific investigations into problems or issues that need to be solved. Five to seven Councillors will normally make up a Task and Finish group, and will look at problems to a greater depth than Panels normally can. They will meet several times before they finish.
They should always to write a report that makes recommendations to solve particular problems or improve the way the Council or external organisations deliver services.
Information Reporting
Not all the reports that Councillors get from officers can be scrutinised. There is a lot of information that does not need to be discussed at length.
We therefore provide Information Reports that let Councillors know what is going on without taking up time in meetings. If there are specific issues raised by the report, Councillors can choose to discuss the report at a meeting of either of the panels.
Briefings and Presentations
Regular briefings and presentations are also organised so that all Councillors can be kept informed on the progress of the Council and any specific projects or schemes that are being developed or delivered.
How to Get Involved if you are a Member of the Public
Anybody can suggest an item for scrutiny. The purpose of Scrutiny is to make councils more responsive to the needs of the people it serves.
If you would like to suggest something for scrutiny, please email us at: scrutinyandperformance@tauntondeane.gov.uk.
You can suggest any item for scrutiny; however, complaints and comments are handled by a different part of the council. For more information, please email enquiries@tauntondeane.gov.uk, visit our comments website or call 01823 356356.
You can also raise an issue through your local Councillor. Contact details for your Ward Councillors can be found on our Councillors and Committees website or by calling our Democratic Services unit on 01823 356555.
Please note that this Scrutiny does not deal with planning applications, which are the job of the Planning Committee and Planning Department