Scrutiny Commissions and Select Committees

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What is Scrutiny?

Since the Local Government Act 2000, councils must have both an executive function, which makes major decisions, and an overview and scrutiny function.

Overview and scrutiny (called scrutiny in Bristol) is a mechanism for backbench councillors to:

  • examine executive proposals and decisions
  • monitor the Council’s performance
  • contribute to policy-making

In addition, scrutiny now has statutory powers to scrutinise the work and performance of partnerships and partners, in relation to health, crime and disorder. 

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Scrutiny in Bristol

Different councils structure this in different ways, and in Bristol we currently have the following structure: 

A Cabinet, currently made up of 8 Executive Members, which is responsible for taking major decisions, bound by a policy framework set by Full Council.   Each Executive Member has a different portfolio and is responsible for a particular area of activity; 

And an overview and scrutiny function which complements this executive decision-making system through the following bodies:

  • scrutiny commissions each oversee a specific broad area of work. They meet six-seven times per year
  • select committees deal with one topic in depth and are time-limited. Two or three run each year
  • scrutiny inquiry days and working groups are in-depth informal reviews
  • There are also three scrutiny committees which are joint with neighbouring local authorities.  These scrutinise decisions which are made on a sub-regional or regional basis:
    • Joint Health Scrutiny Committee
    • Joint Ambulance Committee
    • West of England Joint Scrutiny Committee

The scrutiny system is guided and co-ordinated by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSM). This is a committee of elected members, which sets up scrutiny commissions, select committees and other in-depth reviews, agrees their terms of reference and work programmes and monitors their activities. We have published a work programme for all scrutiny activity (pdf, 49 KB).

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How do Scrutiny Commissions work?

  • All scrutiny commissions and select committees are set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee at the beginning of the municipal year.  The municipal year runs from early May (after the local government elections) until the following April 30.
  • Scrutiny commissions are initiated and led by councillors.
  • Membership consists of backbench (ie. non-executive) councillors of all parties, and commissions may also offer co-opted membership to appropriate external agencies.
  • Scrutiny commissions have considerable influence and achieve their impact and effect change by making recommendations to the Cabinet, Executive Members, Full Council or partnerships. They do not themselves make decisions about council policy or practice.
  • Scrutiny commissions agree a programme of work at the beginning of the year – this is publicly available on the our website as part of the agenda papers for each meeting.
  • It is standard practice for scrutiny commissions to invite people with relevant experience or knowledge to give evidence as expert witnesses. Such experts may be council officers, external agencies, academics, voluntary organisations, community or campaign groups, local residents, service users etc. This brings a wider expertise to bear on the examination and discussion of issues, and enables a more thorough exploration.
  • Scrutiny may also co-opt representatives from different organisations as ongoing (non-voting) members of the commission if there is a strong reason for their participation.
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Scrutiny meetings

Meetings of scrutiny commissions, select committees and joint scrutiny committees are open to the public.  Click on any of the current commissions or committees below to link to our meetings and reports system to view meetings, membership, agendas, minutes and reports for past and forthcoming meetings.  Indepth inquiry days and informal working groups are not open to the public, so please contact the relevant scrutiny officer if you are interested in more details.

Scrutiny commissions 2012:

Scrutiny commissions 2011:

Select committees and indepth reviews 2012:

Joint Scrutiny Committees 2012:

Joint Scrutiny Committees 2011:

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Scrutiny reports

These are the final reports and recommendations produced by scrutiny bodies since 2007.

2011 to 2012

2010 to 2011

2009 to 2010

2008 to 2009

2007 to 2008

The following are final reports and recommendations produced by Scrutiny from 2005 to 2006. If you would like to see a copy of any of these, please contact the Scrutiny Team on 0117 922 2742 or email scrutiny@bristol.gov.uk

2006 to 2007

  • Review of Libraries Select Committee
  • Alcohol and Young People Report: Bristol Health Commission
  • Walk-in Centre Report: Bristol Health Commission
  • Domestic Violence and Abuse: Report and Recommendations

2005 to 2006

  • Staff Health and Welfare Select Committee
  • Sustaining Voluntary Organisations Select Committee
  • Property Assets Select Committee

Joint Health Scrutiny Committee Reports

  • Bristol Health Services Plan - July 2005
  • Avon and Wiltshire Mental health Partnership NHS Trust Transformation Project for Adults - July 2005
  • Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Transformation Project or Older Adults - July 2005
  • Future of Keynsham Hospital Services - April 2006
  • Report on the Proposal to Develop Community Health Facilities for Kingswood and District

Contact information

Scrutiny Team

Room U02, The Council House

College Green

Bristol, BS1 5TR

Related documents

Date for review:  14/09/2012 | Short link: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/8426
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