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Submitting evidence to Overview and Scrutiny panels

Oral evidence

Under the terms of the Constitution of the Salisbury District Council, Overview and Scrutiny committees may require any member of the executive, the head of paid service or any senior officer of the council to come before them to explain matters within their remit.

From time to time, Overview and Scrutiny committees may invite non-council employees to address them, such as residents, stakeholders or representatives of other public or private sector organisations. Attendance by non-council employees is purely voluntary but evidence from such individuals is vitally important to the work of the committees in discussing issues of local concern, and to assist them through the sharing of expert knowledge or best practice.

Oral evidence sessions are conducted in public session and minutes are taken which may subsequently be made available publicly.

Written evidence

Overview and Scrutiny committees also encourage the submission of written evidence. This ensures that any conclusions and recommendations take account of as wide a range of views as possible and makes oral evidence sessions more productive.

Written evidence should contain a brief introduction to the individual or organisation submitting it and details of any recommendations for action by the council or others which the witnesses would like the panel to consider for inclusion in its final report. If at all possible, witnesses are requested to submit memoranda in electronic format or to ensure that submissions are legible.

All submissions will be circulated to panel members and committees will usually seek to publish any evidence received in connection with an inquiry alongside their final report. If witnesses wish the whole, or part, of their evidence to remain confidential to the panel, they should state this clearly in a covering letter.