Thursday, 28 August 2008
Overview and Scrutiny is a way of working for all Local Authorities. It was introduced by the Government to make Councils' decision-making more accountable and effective. It is a key part of the political management arrangements for Doncaster Council.
Overview and Scrutiny Standing Panels examine decisions and recommendations of the Council and other bodies such as the local National Health Service(NHS). They are also "think tanks", openly exploring issues, services and policies.
They:
Scrutiny is unable to respond to individual complaints. Scrutiny does not replace the complaints system - information on how to complain can be obtained from general.enquiries@doncaster.gov.uk
You can get involved by:
Attend Meetings - Most Scrutiny meetings are open to the public and you can listen to the debate and discussion. They are generally held in the Mansion House, in central Doncaster, as well as other locations in the Borough.
Raise an Issue - If you wish to bring something to the attention of Scrutiny, you can make a statement at a relevant Panel meeting, or write or e-mail the Chair of the relevant Panel.
Consultation - You could be asked for your views on an issue or be invited to provide any specialist knowledge you have by being a witness in a Scrutiny Review.
Doncaster has a Management Committee and four Overview and Scrutiny Standing Panels made up of Councillors plus others who can be co-opted from outside organisations and groups. They are:
"Ad Hoc" time-limited Panels can also be set up, such as the Black and Ethnic Minority Panel, set up in response to the Mayoral White Paper, "BME, Towards a Better Understanding".
The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) (please see link below) - aligns to the Corporate Plan theme of "Delivering a Winning Council". It considers Corporate issues which are fundamental to service improvements e.g. Human Resources, Legal Services, ICT etc. and Partnerships, Policy Development, Governance issues, Trading and Facilities Management etc. OSMC also coordinates and manages the work of the four Standing Panels.
They aim to improve the well-being of Doncaster people, and the services they receive by:
The Panels consider views and information from across the community to help them draw on a wide level of knowledge and experience. Sources include:
If you would like to find out more about the work of Overview and Scrutiny or a particular Scrutiny Panel you can complete the Overview and Scrutiny Enquiry Form below.
Overview and Scrutiny Enquiry Form
For further information regarding the Overview and Scrutiny Function in Doncaster click on the Scrutiny Handbook - 2008 below.
In-Depth Reviews 2006/07
Schools, Children & Young People Panel
This year, the Schools, Children and Young People Panel paid particularly detailed attention to three key areas.
Firstly, Skills and Training - looking at the relationship between Doncaster's educational establishments and businesses to understand how young people are supported in making the transition from education to the work place.
Secondly, School Transport - identifying particular problems with this and the opportunities and limitations that effect the Council's ability to address these.
Thirdly, Alcohol Abuse Amongst Young People - understanding the extent of under age drinking in Doncaster, why this occurs and what can be done to tackle it. These different issues were looked at in stages throughout the year.
Healthier Communities & Vulnerable People Panel
This panel carried out a minor review of Development Options for the Warden Service. Members of the Panel have formed a Working Group and the first meeting took place. The Group heard details of existing Warden provision and will be holding further meetings to gather views and evidence from a number of sources.
Economy and Enterprise Panel
During the course of the year, the Economy and Enterprise Panel reviewed apprenticeships. The full scope of this review considered such issues as evaluating the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding allocated for apprenticeships for hard to reach groups, identifying where skills are needed and the relevant opportunities within the Borough, the sustainability and effectiveness of apprenticeship schemes in the Borough, and the role of other agencies and bodies within this initiative.
Work Plans 2007/08
Work Plans have been established for OSMC and the four Standing Panels for the forthcoming year in order to set an agreed programme of work on important issues/concerns that have been raised by either Elected Members or members of the public.
2004/05
A copy of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2004/05 is attached below.
2005/06
A copy of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2005/06 is attached below.
2006/07
A copy of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2006/07 is attached below.
