Overview and Scrutiny - Organisation
ListenFor a summary of what Overview and Scrutiny is, what it does, the powers it has, and how you can take part in ensuring the Council is working in the best interests of the community, please see our two page leaflet: Overview and Scrutiny - Your chance to check up on the Council, available to download opposite.
The Bracknell Forest Constitution sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.
A summary explanation of the Constitution sets out its purpose and commitment to provide clear leadership within the local community through involving others in a transparent and accountable process of effective decision-making which will support improvements in the delivery of services. The Constitution is divided into sections including the structure of the Council, responsibility for decisions, Overview and Scrutiny, the way in which the Council operates and citizens’ rights. The section relating to Overview and Scrutiny states that the Council will appoint an Overview and Scrutiny Commission to discharge the functions conferred by Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 and regulations made thereunder. The section sets out the terms of reference of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Panels and describes their specific functions.
Section 8 of Part 4 of the Constitution contains the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules which details all aspects of the overview and scrutiny process.
Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Panels
There are currently one Overview and Scrutiny Commission and four Overview and Scrutiny Panels, these are:
- Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel
The Panels are appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission which manages and updates their work programme as necessary, including considering any request from a Panel, or any Member thereof, to add an item to the work programme. The remit of the first three Panels broadly reflects the service departments of the Council whilst the fourth Panel was established to carry out the statutory functions under Section 7 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 to review and scrutinise local health service matters. The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is concerned with Council-wide and corporate issues.
Joint East Berkshire Health Scrutiny Committee
Following the reconfiguration of the primary care trusts in Berkshire to create NHS Berkshire East which serves the Boroughs of Bracknell Forest, Windsor & Maidenhead and Slough, a Joint East Berkshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee involving members from all three Councils has been established to scrutinise health provision across East Berkshire. Health matters relating to Bracknell Forest only will remain in the remit of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
 |
