Overview
and Scrutiny is a key part of the governance arrangements at
Northampton Borough Council and also an important mechanism for
driving forward performances in services.
The four
key legislative roles are: -
· Holding the
Executive to account
· Policy development and review
· Best Value Reviews
· External Scrutiny
Overview
and Scrutiny provides the opportunity for non-Executive Councillors
(Councillors that are not on Cabinet) to examine various functions
of the Council, to question how key decisions have been made and to
champion issues of local concern to residents.
Overview and Scrutiny is charged with finding ways of ensuring
the issues that matter to the public are the focus of their
attention, and with finding new ways of getting citizens involved
in the things that affect them.
Overview
and Scrutiny has considerable powers
·
Holding decision makers to account
·
Challenging and improving performance
·
Supporting the achievement of value for
money
·
Challenging the ways things are done
·
Influencing decision makers with evidence based
recommendations
·
Bringing the evidence and views of stakeholders,
users and citizens
Overview
and Scrutiny is Councillor led. As well as Councillors leading on
the review of topics where they research issues and develop
recommendations, they are also involved in setting work programmes
for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, bringing forward topics
and issues, identifying who they want to hear from to inform their
work and what they want to know and how they want it presented to
them.
Topics for
Overview and Scrutiny are identified from a variety of
sources. These can include:
-
· Issues critical to the Council’s improvement
· The Council’s Improvement Plan
· Topics suggested for review by Cabinet
· Matters referred from Full Council
· Topics put forward by Overview and Scrutiny
Councillors
· The Executive
Decision List for Cabinet
The
Overview and Scrutiny process enables non-Executive Councillors
(who are not on the Cabinet) to influence decisions that are taken
by Cabinet and to ensure that the views and needs of local people
are taken into account.
There is one Overview and Scrutiny Committee supported by three
standing Scrutiny Panels. The Panels
are appointed by, and report to, the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee.
The
public can speak for a maximum of three minutes per
item. You are not required to register
your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting
a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify
the Scrutiny Officer
of your intention to speak.
Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2017 2018
http://www.northamptonboroughcouncil.com/councillors/documents/s53253/OverviewandScrutinyWorkProgramme20172018version1.doc.pdf
Detailed below is the Protocol for Public Address at the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Protocol for Public
Address at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
It
is the stated intention of Northampton Borough Council to seek the
views and encourage the active participation of it’s citizens whenever possible. Such an
opportunity exists within the agenda of public council meetings
under the heading of Public Address.
An
address by a member of the public on an issue which is due to be
discussed at an Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting can make a
valued contribution to the understanding of the committee and to
the ultimate decision making process.
As
such it is important that anyone using the Public Address process
should do so in a responsible and respectful manner and in order to
maximise the benefit of their contribution they should:
o
Ensure their contribution is within the time limit
set by the chairperson (normally 3 minutes).
o
Ensure their comments are directly related to the
agenda item on which they have requested to talk.
o
Avoid repeating points made by earlier public
speakers; repetitious comments will be curtailed by the
Chair.
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