Decision Making - Overview and Scrutiny

Following the Local Government Act 2000, the way decisions are taken in Local Government changed. As part of these changes, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council appointed five Overview & Scrutiny Boards, each one responsible for specific areas of activity.

What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has appointed five Overview & Scrutiny Boards, each one responsible for specific areas of activity.

In brief, the roles of Overview and Scrutiny are:

• Holding the Cabinet to account
• Ensuring Corporate priorities are met
• Policy review and development
• External scrutiny of other local organisations
• Performance management and review (including Best Value and CPA)
• Examining matters of particular concern either within the Council or within the community
• Identifying best practice and ensuring that it is shared throughout the organisation

Overview and Scrutiny Boards also monitor the decisions of the Cabinet, individual Cabinet Members and officers. They can 'call-in' a decision which has been made but not yet implemented. This enables them to consider whether the decision has taken into account all appropriate matters and processes. They may recommend through the call in procedure that the decision maker reconsider their decision on any matter.

The Overview and Scrutiny structure aims to support the Council in making its Vision a reality and achieving its aims and key priorities. Its purpose is to examine how well the authority is performing, adopting a 'Critical Friend' relationship with the Cabinet and concentrating on outcomes for local people. It is a powerful tool in supporting the Council's community leadership role, by reviewing matters of concern to the community, and getting local people and organisations involved in its work.

Its focus should be on strategic issues and the community perspective rather than day to day operational service matters.

Members involved in the Overview and Scrutiny Boards and Task and Finish Groups will work to promote an open and transparent Council and drive for democratic accountability.

Overview and Scrutiny offers local people a direct route to get involved in the work of the Council by holding inquiries into matters of public concern which could lead to reports and recommendations advising the Cabinet on any matter.

The work undertaken by each of the Scrutiny Boards can be found in the Boards' agendas.

Health Services Consultations and Health Scrutiny

FAQs

• What function does Overview and Scrutiny carry?
  Overview and Scrutiny consists of 5 Scrutiny Boards, whose role is to monitor the performance of the Council and to scrutinise any issues affecting the citizens of Solihull MBC.. This is achieved by regularly checking the decision making process and reviewing existing polices, procedures and practices, as well as proposing new policies. This process supports the Council's desire to continually improve its services.
• How is Scrutiny different from the previous Committee system? (pre 2000)
  The agenda is quite different and councillors may now decide on the areas that they wish to review and challenge.
  • The Board may meet in an informal atmosphere.
  • The Board may invite those who it believes can help with their investigations to give evidence.
  • The Board may invite members of the public attending its meetings to participate in asking questions.
• How does Overview and Scrutiny fit into the decision making process?
  The New Political Arrangements introduced under the Local Government Act 2000 meant that the decision making functions of the Council were allocated to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members, either individually or collectively, as well as the Council itself (which sets the overall Budgetary and Policy Framework). It is an important function of Overview and Scrutiny Boards to oversee these decisions to ensure that they are fair, practical and being made in the public's best interest. Overview and Scrutiny Boards can put forward their own ideas/recommendations for improvements, and influence the decisions being made.
• What does Overview and Scrutiny not do?
  They do not take on board individual complaints. The Boards are primarily concerned with the wider issues of council policies, practices and procedures. The Solihull MBC already has a complaints procedure in place.
• How do I get involved?
  The Overview and Scrutiny arrangements at Solihull MBC encourage public participation and are committed to being open and accessible. The Scrutiny Boards meet regularly and they are open to the public except when the Boards are receiving confidential information.

Overview and Scrutiny would welcome your involvement. If you are interested in a particular item and wish to speak at a Board Meeting, you must contact the Scrutiny Officer at least 48 hours before the meeting or use the Submit Your Views about Council Scrutiny form.

We aim to publish the work plans for each of the Scrutiny Boards. If you want to be involved in a scrutiny review please contact the Scrutiny Officer and explain which piece of work is of interest to you and what you can offer in terms of knowledge or expertise that will assist with this piece of work. It will then be the decision of the Scrutiny Board as to whether they receive evidence/information from you.

Scrutiny is always looking for new expert witnesses to inform Councillors about particular issues so please consider what expertise you have and whether you would be willing to get involved in the scrutiny process.

Another way for members of the public to get involved in the Scrutiny process is by suggesting a specific piece of work you would like the Board to undertake. Suggestions can be made by filling in a Scrutiny Review Form which can be found on this website and sending it to Democratic Services at the Solihull Council House. Please be aware, however, that the decision to undertake pieces of work is at the individual Board's discretion and suggested topics may not always be taken up.

The role of a Scrutiny Board in considering a particular subject is to gather evidence, listen to members of the public and engage with stakeholders to enable Councillors to make a series of informed recommendations. It strives to be non-political and ensure that everyone is heard and positive outcomes for the Council and its partners are developed. Scrutiny is not about being confrontational nor is it about listening to complaints.

Please do think about attending a Scrutiny Board whether that is to observe the proceedings or by becoming an expert witness. Notes are available on what you can expect if you attend a meeting.

Any person appearing before a Scrutiny Board as a witness will be asked to complete an comments form as to their experience.

The Boards

The Council has set up an Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and four Scrutiny Boards:

• Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Board
• Health, Social Care & Partnership Scrutiny Board
• Economic Development & Regeneration Scrutiny Board 
• Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Board

Contact

If you require any further information then please contact Democratic Services

Telephone: 0121 704 6022

Email: democraticservices@solihull.gov.uk