What does the Overview and Scrutiny Board do?

The work of the Overview and Scrutiny Board falls into the following categories:

General

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is responsible for the Council's Call In function, scrutiny of the Budget, Petitions and Councillor Calls for Action.

Policy Reviews

The Board usually delegates policy review to Task Groups.  These groups carry out detailed, evidence-based assessments of Council services or issues which affect the lives of local people.  During the course of a review a Task Group will speak to Council Officers, members of the Cabinet and external witnesses to assist them in their information gathering.  When the exercise is completed the Task Group will produce a report containing recommendations about how things can be improved.  This report will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Board who will make a decision about whether to refer these recommendations on to the Cabinet and/or partner agencies.

Short, Sharp Reviews

In addition to conducting in-depth reviews through Task Groups, the Board often wants to conduct a quick, one-off review of a topic.  A Short, Sharp Review might be more appropriate if there are time constraints, or the review topic is currently in the public eye.

Performance Monitoring

Much of the Board’s work involves monitoring the work of the Council.  The Board has responsibility for monitoring performance improvement, identifying unsatisfactory progress or performance and making recommendations on remedial action to the Cabinet.

Scrutiny of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

The Police and Justice Act 2006 required all local authorities to have a Scrutiny Committee designated with the responsibility for reviewing the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), in Bromsgrove the Overview and Scrutiny Board was designated to review the work of the Bromsgrove Community Safety Partnership, which is the CDRP based in the District.

The Board concentrates on the work of the partnership as a whole, rather than on the work of specific organisations represented on the Partnership.  Separate meetings of the Board are usually held to cover the work of the Partnership and any specific topics the Board wish to investigate in more detail.