Overview and Scrutiny is the process by which the Council looks at its own performance, and that of other public sector services to check how well they are doing. There are several committees which aim to improve the way in which services are delivered by looking for new ways of working, reviewing existing policies or suggesting new ones and challenging overall performance.

Overview and Scrutiny has a number of key roles to play:

• Holding to account – this means providing a challenge to the Council’s Cabinet and other decision makers to ensure that the right decisions are made in the right way and at the right time and that the process is open, transparent and accountable.
  
• Policy review and development – this may include reviewing existing policy to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose or suggesting new policy and monitoring its implementation.
  
• Challenging performance and reviewing quality – this may be as part of a formal assessment process or as a ‘critical friend’ to ensure that services are reaching targets and always striving to continuously improve their performance. This includes strong customer service, making good use of resources including providing value for money and ensuring robust performance management mechanisms are in place.
  
• Reflecting the voice and concerns of the public – this includes promoting awareness and understanding of Overview and Scrutiny amongst the general public and representing and engaging with our diverse communities across the district. This enables councillors to fulfil their community leadership role by maintaining an on-going dialogue, allowing issues of concern to be brought forward and considered by the committees.