How Improvement and Scrutiny Works

The county council has four Improvement and Scrutiny committees which support the work of the Executive (Cabinet) and the council as a whole.  

Improvement and Scrutiny has an important role in ensuring that local people continue to receive high quality services.   

The Health and Social Care Act 2001 also gives the county council responsibility for undertaking the scrutiny of local services provided and commissioned by the NHS. 

Improvement and Scrutiny Committees are made up of backbench non-executive members of the council, appointed on a proportional basis to reflect the political balance of the council at the time.   In general terms the role of Improvement and Scrutiny is to: 

  • Hold the Executive (Cabinet) to account 
  • Influence the development of new policies 
  • Conduct Improvement and Scrutiny reviews of council services and make recommendations for service improvement     
  • Monitor the performance of county council services  
  • Each committee produces an annual work programme which sets out the Improvement and Scrutiny reviews to be undertaken.   

For each Improvement and Scrutiny review, a small member working group is established to oversee the conduct of the review.  

The review is conducted by gathering written evidence, interviewing relevant employees and external “expert” witnesses and possibly by community consultation. 

Once all the evidence has been received, a final report with recommendations for improvement is presented to the appropriate Improvement and Scrutiny Committee.  

If approved, the report is then presented by the Chair of the Committee to Cabinet for formal approval and adoption of the recommendations.   Cabinet is not bound to accept these recommendations.      

If Cabinet approves the report the recommendations are implemented in line with an agreed action plan.   To ensure that agreed recommendations are implemented, Improvement and Scrutiny Committees receive regular reports from Chief Officers. 

For further information about the work of Improvement and Scrutiny, click on the links below.

Related documents

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