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You are here: Home > Council and democracy > Committee meetings > Committees > Overview and Scrutiny > Overview and Scrutiny

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

This section is intended to help people looking for information about the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Role of the Committee

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a number of roles:

• scrutiny of the decision making process
• monitoring the Council’s performance
• supporting the strategic development of policy prepared by the Executive
• review of specific services
• reviewing issues of concern to local people
• “Call in” of Executive decisions
• monitoring and scrutinising the activities of others.

The Committee and its Panels examine whether Council services and policies are being delivered in the most efficient and effective way possible, and whether they are meeting the needs of local residents, businesses and users of Council services.

It acts as a watchdog, and exists to ensure the Executive acts in the full interest of the public good. The Executive consults the Committee on all its major Plans and Strategies.

The Committee has a work programme of reviews that will contribute to the overall priorities for improving Council services and developing policy.

It may also investigate a matter if they believe it is of sufficient local concern.

Alternatively, they can delay a decision made by the Executive but not yet implemented, in order to consider whether the decision is appropriate. This is known as the 'call-in' procedure.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is not for individual complaints. Individual complaints concerning Council services should be directed to the Council Services department involved, who will then guide you through the complaints procedure if required.

Much of this work is undertaken by Review Panels. Each Panel has its own page on the website containing information on the scope of the review, current position, timetable, forthcoming events, and how you can get involved.

Each of the Review Panels reports their findings and recommendations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillors:

• Cllr Ms. A S Berridge (Con)
• Cllr M A Brunt (Con)
• Cllr Dr L R Hack (Con)
• Cllr K Hagerty (Con)
• Cllr N Harris (Res Assoc)
• Cllr I Khan (Con)
• Cllr Mrs S F King (Con)
• Cllr R J Nixon (Ind)
• Cllr G L Norman (Lib Dem)
• Cllr R Rampertab (Con)
• Cllr B A Stead (Res Assoc)
• Cllr J Stephenson (Con)
• Cllr Ms B Thomson (Con)
• Cllr Mrs J Tomlinson
• Cllr Mrs R S Turner (Con)

Consultation

The Committee is consulted by the Executive on all its major plans and strategies.

The Executive must take account of its views. The Committee wants to hear community views and explore options before it submits its reports to the Executive.

Guides to the operation of Scrutiny

Two leaflets have been produced that provide more information on the Scrutiny function, how to get involved and about participating in Review Panels. 

To access these leaflets click on the link below:

•  Guide to the operation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (pdf) (12.2kB)
•  Guide for external witnesses giving evidence at Scrutiny Review Panels (pdf) (25.0kB)                     

It is the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's intention to produce a toolkit that will expand on these leaflets and put the whole Scrutiny function into context with modernised local government.

The toolkit will be published on this webpage when it has been completed.                     

Access to Papers

Agendas and minutes for meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are available for you to browse or print through the Council's E-genda system.

Links to Council Priorities

The Scrutiny function seeks to develop the Council's priorities and to generally improve services.

A number of key documents make up the Policy Framework that sets out those priorities which are available by clicking the link below:

• The Community Plan 
• The Corporate Plan                  

Best Value Reviews

Best Value is a function undertaken across every Directorate of the Council at some point and it focuses on specific performances of the Council.

The Best Value Reviews process is 'owned' by the Executive but in a number of areas the Committee undertakes reviews, often with panels, to support those reviews and makes recommendations to the Executive.         

For more information:

Write to: 
Chris Phelan, Scrutiny Support Officer
Democratic Services
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Reigate
RH2 0SH

Tel: 01737 276114

Email: chris.phelan@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

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