Article 6 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANELS
6.1 Terms of reference, general duties and membership
The Council will appoint the Overview Panels and Scrutiny Panels set out below to discharge the functions granted by Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 or regulations under section 32 of the Local Government Act 2000 in relation to the duties set out in the right hand column of the tables on pages 20 and 22.
6.1.1 Overview Panels
General Role:
1. Assist and advise on developing new policy or reviewing current policy.
2. Make reports and/or recommendations to the full Council and/or the Cabinet on the discharge of any functions.
3. Consider any matter affecting the area or its residents, local businesses and visitors.
Specific Role
1. Assist Council and Cabinet in development of the Council’s budget and policy framework by in-depth analysis of policy issues; to nform and avoid duplication.
2. Address current and new policies.
3. Be open to suggestions from full Council, Cabinet or individual Cabinet Members for review work.
4. Set own work programmes to reflect Council priorities.
5. Conduct research, engage community and other consultation on policy issues and possible options.
6. Consider and introduce mechanisms to encourage and improve how the community takes part in the development of policy options.
7. Consider reviews that look specifically at the effects of policies and decisions on particular groups in the community.
8. Consider information on the performance of other external organisations and public bodies which affect the Council’s services or functions. This information may be gathered by:
· inviting reports from those organisations and public bodies by asking them to speak to the Overview Panel and local people about their activities – this to include Bournemouth 2026 and the Local Area Agreement.
· Looking at monitoring and performance reports from relevant Scrutiny Panels.
This information will then be used to help measure the effectiveness of the policies being reviewed.
9. Question and gather evidence.
10. Address issues of wider concern to the community and the workings of partners.
11. Use co-option to get expertise and knowledge in certain areas.
12. Look at cross-cutting issues – so as to contribute to the ‘well being’ of the community.
13. Link policy review programme to output from monitoring and performance management reports from relevant Scrutiny Panels.
Terms of Reference:
|
Overview Panel |
What it does |
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Sustainable Environment |
Looks at all environmental, housing and travel issues |
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Safer and Stronger Communities |
Looks at ways to reduce crime and fear of crime, build respect in communities and remove poverty and disadvantage |
|
Bournemouth and Poole Economic |
Looks at ways to improve the competitiveness of the area, improve and sustain inward investment and raise skill levels. This Panel also considers issues arising from joint working with Poole |
|
Health and Well Being Care |
Looks at ways to improve the health and well being of the people of Bournemouth |
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Investing in People
- includes 2 Church co-opted Members and 2 parent representative co-opted Members |
Looks at ways to improve the quality of life for the people of Bournemouth, education, empowering people and bringing marginalised and excluded groups into mainstream society |
|
Administration and Value for Money |
Looks at ways to provide quality services and value for money, including the Revenue and Capital budgets and various corporate policies and plans |
Membership:
Nine non-Cabinet Members on a proportional basis.
In considering membership of the Panels the Council will consider the potential contribution of community stakeholders outside the Council. Under Council Procedure Rule 79 – ‘Co-opted Members’ – stakeholders may be co-opted to membership of a Panel.
Overview Panels in local education councils must comply with the provisions of paragraphs 7, 8, 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 to the Local Government Act 2000 or provisions proposed in regulations under section 32 of that Act. This requires that church and parent governor representatives are included as voting members of bodies with education as all or part of their duties.
Frequency of meetings:
Overview Panels will meet at least every three months.
6.1.2 Scrutiny Panels
General Role:
1. Scrutinise decisions made or actions taken in connection with the discharge of the Council’s functions.
2. Make reports and/or recommendations to full Council and/or Cabinet in connection with the discharge of the Council’s functions.
3. Exercise the right to ‘call-in’, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet implemented by the Cabinet.
4. Help ensure Cabinet Members have an opportunity to ‘air’ issues before sending them to Cabinet or elsewhere – done through combination of Cabinet Member questions and Cabinet Member progress report.
5. The Health Scrutiny Panel will undertake the powers of Health Scrutiny under the Health and Social Care Act 2001:
a. To scrutinise the provision of Health Services in Bournemouth by the Primary Care Trust, National Health Service Trusts and the work of the Strategic Health Authority.
b. To take into account cross-boundary issues, especially in relation to Dorset, Poole and West Hampshire and to co-ordinate the programme for scrutinising health with neighbouring authorities.
c. To consult with other local authorities as appropriate when considering cross-boundary issues.
Specific Role
1. Question Members of Cabinet and/or Chief Executive and/or Executive Directors and/or Heads of Business Units on issues and proposals affecting the Council’s area; or about their decisions and performance, whether generally in connection with Service Plans and targets over a period of time, or in relation to particular decisions, plans or projects.
2. Scrutinise decisions made by, and performance of, the Cabinet, Chief Executive, Executive Directors and Heads of Business Units, both in relation to individual decisions and over time.
3. Make recommendations to the Cabinet and/or full Council arising from the outcome of the scrutiny process through the Overview Board.
4. Question and gather evidence.
5. Scrutinise the performance of any function which is the responsibility of the Council.
6. Set own work programmes.
7. Outputs will be reported to the Overview Board which can then consider the need for review and cascade requirements to the Overview Panels.
8. The Health Scrutiny Panel will also apply 1 to 7 above in relation to the providers of health services in Bournemouth.
Terms of Reference:
|
Scrutiny Panel |
What it does |
|
Adult and Community Services |
Looks at Community Care Services; Information, Culture and Community Learning; Housing Landlord; Adult and Community Support; Public Protection; Resources – Revenue and Benefits; Strategic Services – Communications and Consultation |
|
Children and Families Services |
Looks at Support for Children and Young People; Child Care and Family Support; Leisure Services; Inclusion and Achievement |
|
Environment and Economy |
Looks at Tourism; BIC/Pavilion; Law and Corporate Governance; Planning and Transport; Resources – except Revenue and Benefits; Strategic Services – except Communication and Consultation; Technical Services |
|
Health |
Looks at all matters affecting the health of residents of Bournemouth, including the provision of National Health Services |
Membership:
Nine non-Cabinet Members on a proportional basis.
In considering membership of the Panels the Council will consider the potential contribution of community stakeholders outside the Council. Under Council Procedure Rule 79 – ‘Co-opted Members’ – stakeholders may be co-opted to membership of a Panel.
Scrutiny Panels in local education councils must comply with the provisions of paragraphs 7, 8, 10 and 11 of Schedule 1 to the Local Government Act 2000 or provisions proposed in regulations under section 32 of that Act. This requires that church and parent governor representatives are included as voting members of bodies with education as all or part of their duties.
Frequency of meetings:
Scrutiny Panels will meet at least every three months.
6.2 PROCEEDINGS OF OVERVIEW PANELS AND SCRUTINY PANELS
The Overview Panels and Scrutiny Panels will conduct their proceedings in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules as supplemented by the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of this Constitution. The Health Scrutiny Panel will also have regard to the provisions of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 and all subsequent Regulations.
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