Overview and Scrutiny
Overview & Scrutiny aims to make decision making
more accountable, transparent and inclusive and to improve services
provided for the community by:
- Holding the Council's Executive Committee and Planning
Committee to account for the decisions they make.
- Reviewing and developing the Council's policies to ensure that
they improve the well being of the community
- Scrutinising the decisions of outside organisations who's work
affects the local community
How does Overview & Scrutiny Work in Malvern Hills
District?
By acting to champion issues causing concern to our local
communities demonstrates the District Council's commitment to
improve services in the interest of the wellbeing of the
District. The Committee acts as the Council's watchdog by
undertaking the scrutiny and review of Council services and the
services provided by other bodies whose services impact the
District and does so in a way for the benefit of the
district, not merely to criticise.
The work of Overview and Scrutiny is carried out by Councillors
who do not sit on the Council's Executive Committee and can
therefore approach issues with independence from the Council's key
decision making body. It also provides the District Council a means
of harnessing the valuable skills and knowledge of non-executive
members.
Since July 2011, the Committee has been Co-Chaired by
Councillors Tom Wells and Mike Morgan, reflecting the
collaborative cross party approach of overview and
scrutiny.
The Committee's pre-decision scrutiny, forming
part of the decision making process, demonstrates the
Council's commitment to an inclusive, open and transparent decision
making process. By encouraging input from the District's local
communities and partners shows how the public can be directly
involved in the Council's decision making process and thereby
directly influence the decisions that affect their communities.
The Committee's Work Programme is updated at
each meeting which allows flexibility to pick up issues as
they arise and suggestions for items for them to look into are
welcomed. To this end, the last few years has seen the Work
Programme shaped by the District's 54 Parish and Town Councils
providing a public platform for communities to air issues that
are causing concern locally and has resulted in the Council taking
direct action to address issues. This also places the District in a
strong position in terms of the positive relationship it enjoys
with the Parish and Town Councils in preparation for
the Localism agenda which is placing more responsibility
at the local level.
When a subject is suggested for Overview and
Scrutiny Committee to look into, that’s too big for the Committee
as a whole to deal with, it sets up a Task & Finish group to
investigate the matter in depth on its behalf and report back to
the Committee. Provided the Task and Finish group’s report and
recommendations are endorsed by the Committee, this is then put to
full Council for approval and the Recommendations are then
implemented. To date all Task and Finish Reports have been endorsed
and the resulting recommendations implemented.
How can I get involved?
We always welcome and actively encourage public involvement in
Scrutiny. You can become involved in several ways; you may suggest
a topic or may attend a meeting and have your say, suggest a
topic for the Committee to include within their meeting. The
Committee is always keen to know what the public are thinking
including any concerns you wish to report.
If this is the case then contact us in the first instance to
find out more by sending us an email at committee@malvernhills.gov.uk.
or by calling Karen Jarman on 01684 862273 who will be pleased to
provided you with more information.
Or if you would like to see how differently Overview and
Scrutiny operates, then please feel free to attend one of
our meetings and have your say or just or see how the
Committee works, without participating if you wish.
The Committee also conducts part of its work
by establishing Task & Finish investigations. This occurs when
an issue that forms Part of the Committee's work is done by
The Committee gathers as much evidence as it can about an issue by
undertaking research, this may include speaking with service users
and community groups, questioning Portfolio Holders, Council
officers or representatives from other public bodies or
undertaking fact finding visits. Overview and Scrutiny provides an
excellent opportunity for the public to become involved in
influencing services by providing evidence to the
Committee.
Based on the evidence collected, a report and recommendations
for improvement. will be published. The Committee will pass on the
recommendations to the Executive Committee, Planning Committee or
Council for
decision.
What issues are the Committee currently looking at?
Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviews and
updates its
work programme at each meeting. Managing the work programme
with this flexibility enables the Committee to consider matters of
local concern, not previously scheduled but which may merit
inclusion.
The Committee also conducts its business
in part by the establishment of
Task and Finish groups who undertake in depth reviews
into specific issues.
Should you wish to find out more about the work of the
Committee you are welcome to attend meetings which
usually start at 6:30p.m. in Priory Lodge Hall, Avenue Road
Malvern.
Further details of the Committee's work can be accessed via
the Annual Reports below.
How can I get involved?