Overview and scrutiny

Scrutiny – what's it all about?

Scrutiny is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as 'a careful look or examination', and in essence that is what the council's scrutiny work is all about.

Scrutiny plays an essential part of the democratic process. Scrutiny members can hold the decision makers – the Cabinet – to account by examining the decisions they have made and the evidence used to make those decisions. And it provides a way for matters of public concern to be examined in public.

Who does Scrutiny?

Scrutiny brings together councillors, members of the public, representatives of partner organisations and other bodies to examine an issue or question relating to life in South Wiltshire. All councillors excluding Cabinet members can be on any of the scrutiny panels.

Reviews are undertaken by small groups who investigate an issue in depth – taking evidence, commissioning research, examining literature, undertaking site visits, conducting consultation exercises and analysing the results.

Such reviews usually conclude with a final report containing recommendations that aim to address the issue referred to the panel – a bit like a parliamentary inquiry.

At its best, scrutiny can bring about some very positive changes. The role of members charged with overview and scrutiny includes:

  • holding the executive to account for the efficient exercise of executive functions
  • assisting in the improvement and development of the council's policies
  • reviewing and making reports on issues which affect the authority's area or its residents
  • examining whether the systems the executive has in place to deliver its functions are robust and are being properly observed

The council has four overview and scrutiny Panels and a scrutiny co-ordinating committee to undertake the scrutiny role. The Panels reflect the Cabinet 'portfolios' and cover the following areas:

  • Community and Housing
  • Transport and Environment
  • Resources
  • Planning and Economic Development

Useful documents

The council's Scrutiny Officers have produced several documents which may be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about how scrutiny works at Salisbury District Council.

Scrutiny Toolkit

This document is a helpful guide to councillors to give them some tips and advice when they are deciding what they want to review and the different ways to get the information they need.

Witness Guide

This document may be useful to anyone invited or wishing to give evidence to a scrutiny review group. A review group will have a topic which they are investigating and they will have a terms of reference setting out exactly what they want to find out. People who can help them answer the questions they have set may be invited to attend.

The meetings are fact-finding and invitees will be briefed by the scrutiny officers before the meeting so they know what questions and issues will be raised. Presentations, written submissions or verbal question and answer sessions all form part of fact-finding sessions.

Scrutiny panels and their reviews

The four scrutiny panels are responsible for the following current and completed reviews::

Environment and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Community and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Planning and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Resources Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Further information

Learn more about scrutiny on the Centre for Public Scrutiny website at www.cfps.org.uk.

Salisbury District has a team of dedicated staff available to support scrutiny work. To find out more about Scrutiny in Salisbury District Council, contact:

Steve Milton
Lead officer for O&S work within the council
01722 434255
smilton@salisbury.gov.uk

Tom Bray
Community and Housing and Reources
01722 434250
tbray@salisbury.gov.uk

James Chamberlain
Environment and Transport
01722 434428
jchamberlain@salisbury.gov.uk

Paul Trenell
Planning and Economic Development
01722 434252
ptrenell@salisbury.gov.uk

Scrutiny structure map

Overview and Scrutiny Panels:

  • E&T – Environment and Transport
  • RES – Resources
  • C&H – Community and Housing
  • P&ED – Planning and Economic Development
  • O&S Co-ord – Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee

Regulatory Bodies:

  • WAC – Western Area Committee
  • NAC – Northern Area Committee
  • SAC – Southern Area Committee
  • CAC – City Area Committee
  • P&R – Planning and Regulatory Panel

Contact details:

Telephone:
01722 434255

email:
scrutiny@salisbury.gov.uk...

Postal address:
Democratic Services
Salisbury District Council
PO Box 2117
Salisbury
SP2 2DF