What is
scrutiny?
Scrutiny helps to develop policy,
improve service performance and holds the Mayor and the Executive
to account for their decisions.
Scrutiny in Newham consists of the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee and scrutiny commissions. These
bodies are made up of those elected Councillors who are not members
of the Executive (Mayor and Cabinet).
Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitors performance, manages the
scrutiny function and holds the Mayor to account through
considering key decisions from the Executive forward plan.
The Council's scrutiny commissions are groups made up of
non-executive councillors and co-opted members, who meet to gather
evidence from officers, the Executive, service users, expert
witnesses, the public and external partners on particular issues
and topics.
The commissions then make recommendations to the Mayor about how to
improve services for the people of Newham. The Mayor must respond
to the recommendations.
Scrutiny can look at Council services as well as services provided
by other local agencies and organisations. It has powers to hold
the NHS, the police and other local partners to
account.