Reviewing Council Decisions and Performance

What is Overview and Scrutiny?

Scrutiny Committees have the power to look at any issue which affects the local area or its inhabitants. This gives them a unique legitimacy to examine issues in a way that no other individual or organisation can.

Key roles for scrutiny committees include:

• Holding the Executive and other decision makers to account;
• Policy development and review;
• Performance management;
• Reviewing the activities of external partners.

The principles of good scrutiny are:

• To provide constructive 'critical friend' challenge;
• To amplify the voice and concerns of the public;
• To be led by independent people who take responsibility for their role;
• To drive improvement in public services.

How does scrutiny work at West Berkshire Council?

The Council's Overview and Scrutiny functions are undertaken by back-bench councillors.

West Berkshire Council currently has two Scrutiny Committees - the Scrutiny Commission and the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Commission is responsible for reviewing decisions taken by the Council's Executive and delegated decisions made by senior officers. It also has powers to review the Council's policies and services and, in some cases, those of external organisations and partners. In particular, the Commission acts as the Council's Crime and Disorder Committee, undertaking scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership.

The role of the Scrutiny Commission, and the way that it operates, are defined within part 6.9 of the Council Constitution.

Browse Scrutiny Commission meetings and agendas

The Health Scrutiny Committee focuses on matters related to the provision of health and public health services within West Berkshire and fulfils the statutory health scrutiny functions in relation to services provided for West Berkshire residents.

The role of the Health Scrutiny Committee, and the way that it operates are defined within part 6.4 of the Council Constitution.

Browse Health Scrutiny Committee meetings and agendas

Where changes are proposed to health services that affect patient flows across local authority boundaries, those local authorities are obliged to set up a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (JHOSC).

West Berkshire Council has two Members on the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West JHOSC, which has responsibility for scrutinising the activities of the Integrated Care Board.

Browse Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West JHOSC meetings and agendas

Calling-in decisions

If a decision made by the Executive or an Individual Executive Member, or a senior officer is disputed then it can be 'called-in' for review.

Call-in has the effect of stopping the decision from being implemented until the Scrutiny Commission has reviewed it. The Scrutiny Commission is unable to overturn a decision, but they are able to refer it back to the decision maker for further consideration with recommendations for changes.

Members of the public are not able to ask for a decision to be called-in, but can contact their local councillor to request that they do so.

When a report on a decision is published, it will state whether or not it can be called-in. Not all items will be eligible, and reports that are marked as 'not subject to call-in' will include an explanation as to why this is.

Call-in requires five members, who were not involved in making the decision, to request that it is reviewed. The Council Constitution requires that a call-in request should be made within five working days of the decision being published. 

Annual Scrutiny Reports

West Berkshire Council publishes an Annual Scrutiny Report which provides a summary of scrutiny activity and achievements over the previous year.

You can view these reports below.