Submitted by Carrie Brookes on 14 Apr 2021 - 11:44am
The scrutiny process involves the Council’s elected members examining any topic which impacts the local area. This often relates to Council services, but the process can also involve relevant external organisations and bodies. Scrutiny ensures that the decisions taken by the Council and its partners are appropriate. It creates an open, transparent way for elected members to shape, question, evaluate and challenge policies, decisions and performance.
At the end of the exercise, an investigation report is prepared, which summarises the scrutiny panel's findings and puts forward recommendations to make Middlesbrough a better place to live and work.
As a general rule, topics should relate to community issues that affect the people of the borough. This will allow you to have a say in Council matters by suggesting the holding of enquiries into topics of local concern. Members of the public are also welcome to attend scrutiny meetings where those topics are being discussed. The Overview and Scrutiny Board and the scrutiny panels welcome your suggestions, although they cannot guarantee that all of the suggested topics will be reviewed.
Some examples of recent scrutiny investigations include:
- Addressing Poverty Issues and the Impact on Learning
- Pest Control
- Physical Activity for Older People (aged 65+)
- Reducing Opioid Dependency
- Social Cohesion
The Overview and Scrutiny Board and the scrutiny panels will be deciding which topics they wish to investigate based on suggestions from a variety of sources, including your suggestions. So if you would like to have your say, please email scrutiny@middlesbrough.gov.uk or Joanne_McNally@middlesbrough.gov.uk by Friday 30 April 2021 and identify your:
- suggested topics for scrutiny review; and
- reasons for suggesting the topics.
