Welcome from Overview and Scrutiny Chairs
Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) at Hastings Borough Council has recently undergone a complete review. This has resulted in a change to the structure of O&S. Hastings Borough Council now has two O&S committees who meet formally on a quarterly basis to discuss Performance Management. The rest of the Committees' time is spent focussing on scrutiny reviews and policy development as decided by the members in their annual work programme.
The Chairs and Vice Chairs of the two committees meet on a quarterly basis to plan the forward agendas for the two committees, monitor performance of the annual work programme and discuss any training needs. They value your views and are keen to hear any suggestions regarding Overview and Scrutiny. They are especially keen to promote some new ways that you can get involved.
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Overview and Scrutiny Explained
We have two O&S Committees made up of non- Cabinet Councillors. They have a number of essential roles in the effective delivery of Council services:
Holding the Cabinet to account
The O&S Committees scrutinise decisions that are made by Cabinet, usually by influencing the policies before a formal decision is made. They make sure that the decisions taken by the Cabinet are appropriate. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair or any two members of the relevant O&S committee may request a decision be called in for scrutiny. They may then interview the Cabinet Member or Officers and make recommendations to the Cabinet to suggest that the decision be reconsidered.
They also have an important role in helping to develop new policies and making recommendations to the decision makers by:
Reviewing Services
The Committees can choose to review any of the Council services and to present proposals for improvement or change to Cabinet. Scrutiny Reviews involve carrying out a detailed assessment of a Council service before making recommendations to Cabinet on how the service might be improved.
The Committees also have the power to investigate services provided by other organisations within the borough if they affect the quality of life of people living and working here, for example, the provision of low floor buses.
A joint meeting of the two committees is held in May/June each year, determining the programme of work for the current year. Reviews undertaken in 2011-12 include Grounds Maintenance Specification, Influencing and Appraising the Decisions of Third Parties and Social Return on Investment.
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Membership of Overview and Scrutiny Committees
Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Resources
Has responsibility for monitoring performance of services in the Corproate Resources Directorate, including collection of Council Tax and other charges, payment of benefits, management of resources, public sector efficiency programmes, progress on the implementation of Cabinet decisions, policy development work with Portfolio Holders, officers and partners, service reviews and cross cutting issues.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Services
Has responsibility for monitoring performance of services in the Regeneration, Homes and Communities and Environmental Services Directorates, including Community Strategy Targets, reviewing progress on the implementation of Cabinet decisions, policy development work with Portfolio Holders, officers and partners and service reviews.
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The Meetings
Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings are open to the public. Dates, times and venues are published in advance and agendas are published five working days before the meeting.
Use this link for Council Meetings, Agendas, Reports and Minutes.
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Meeting documents for 21 February 2012
These documents form part of the Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting Agenda for Tuesday 21 February:
The other documents for these meetings can be read in the Meetings, Agendas, Reports and Minutes area - select Overview and Scrutiny Committee' from the Meetings Type drop down menu.
These documents form part of the Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting Agenda held on Wednesday 16 February:
The other documents for these meetings can be read in the Meetings, Agendas, Reports and Minutes area - select Overview and Scrutiny Committee' from the Meetings Type drop down menu.
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Send us your views
As part of the Overview and Scrutiny process, we encourage and very much welcome public views. Please use our form to Send us your views.
