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Scrutiny
Glossary
A list of useful terms to do with
Scrutiny.
Agenda - A list of reports and other
items to be dealt with at a meeting
Cabinet - The Councillors responsible for advising
the Mayor when making decisions, within the policy and budget
framework decided by the council.
Call-In - This is a formal procedure to allow the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review a decision of the
Executive before it is implemented.
Co-Opted Member - Local Authorities have general
powers to include Co-opted Members on their Overview and Scrutiny
Committee and Scrutiny Commissions. On Education matters there are
statutory Co-Optees who represent the Church of England and
Catholic Dioceses, and there are Parent Governor representatives.
These members are not elected members of the Authority but are
members of the community with specific expertise and knowledge. A
Co-Opted Member, with the exception of Statutory Education
Co-Optees, has no voting rights.
Councillor - An elected representative on the
council. Councillors represent the interests of the constituents
who live in their ward and Newham as a whole. (Backbench
Councillor - A Councillor who is not a Member of the
Cabinet).
Executive - Responsible for decisions, within the framework
decided by the full Council. In Newham the Executive takes the form
of a directly elected Mayor 0with an advisory Cabinet.
Local Government Act 2000 - This Act set out new governance
arrangements which included the establishment of a Scrutiny
function. The Act also gave us a new power to promote the economic,
social and environmental well being of their local
communities.
Mayor - In Newham, the Executive is led by a directly
elected member of the council (the Mayor) who makes decisions,
within the framework decided by the full Council.
Minutes - A record of decisions taken, the background papers
received and reasons for the decision at all formal meetings of the
council.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee- This Committee leads on our
Scrutiny function and is formed of Councillors that are not part of
the Executive function. It monitors the activity of the Executive,
and services provided by external organisations such as health
trusts.
Performance Indicator (PIs) - A way of measuring how a
service is performing against its objectives. Performance
Indicators may be collected for local or national purposes.
Scrutiny Commissions - Time limited bodies established by the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review our services, to develop
policies and scrutinise other local organisations, including the
health service. |