What is
Scrutiny?
Local Government
scrutiny was created by the Local Government Act 2000 which
required every local authority to have a scrutiny function.
Scrutiny is a way of holding the council and external service
providers to account on behalf of residents. Scrutiny aims to
increase accountability by making the decision-making process clear
and understandable and to ensure that the decisions being made by
the Council are the best option for all those living and working in
the borough.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC)
Enfield Council
has an overarching Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) whose
main role is to scrutinise the whole of the council’s
functions and responsibilities. The OSC coordinates the work of
Scrutiny Panels work programmes. Made up of eight Members, OSC
ensures that the scrutiny function in Enfield operates
smoothly.
Equally
important is OSC’s role in hearing ‘call-ins’ and
Councillor Call for Actions. Decisions made by the council can be
called-in through the scrutiny process for questioning. OSC can
decide whether the original decisions should be reconsidered,
upheld or referred to Full Council.
Call-in
Councillors who
are not on the cabinet can use call-ins to challenge decisions made
by the Cabinet, a sub-committee of the cabinet, an individual
cabinet member or key decision made by an officer. To call a
decision in the councillor must submit a call-in request stating
the reason for the call-in and have the signatures of seven other
members of the council. A call-in meeting of the OSC will then be
held within 14 days where the one of three decisions will be
made:
- Refer the decision back to the decision-making
body for reconsideration explaining the
concerns.
- Refer the decision to Full
Council.
- Confirm the original decision.
Scrutiny Panels
There are four
Scrutiny Panels. The role of the panels is to:
1.
To review and scrutinise decisions made, or actions
taken by any of the Council’s functions
2.
To make reports and recommendations to Full Council
and the cabinet
3.
To investigate any issues affecting the
borough
Scrutiny
Panels
Culture and Environment Scrutiny
Panel
Healthy and Safe Communities Scrutiny
Panel
Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny
Panel
Thriving Children and Young People Scrutiny
Panel
How to
get involved
Members of the public
are welcome to attend and participate in scrutiny
meetings.
If you would like to
suggest a topic for consideration by scrutiny, please
email democracy@enfield.gov.uk.