Scrutiny
Scrutiny is an activity which involves examining and monitoring all or part of a public sector body, such as Uttlesford District Council, with the aim of improving the quality of services to the public.
The public sector provides services and in doing so spends public money. Scrutiny ensures that decision makers are accountable for what they do, the decision making process is clear and accessible to the public, and that there are opportunities for the public and their representatives to influence and improve public policy and services.
Uttlesford District Council’s Scrutiny Committee meets five times per year, with scrutiny activity occurring in between the meetings by way of smaller task specific working groups. Council members sitting on the Scrutiny Committee are:
- Cllr Alan Dean (chairman)
- Cllr Geoffery Sell (vice-chairman)
- Cllr Sarfraz Anjum
- Cllr Robert Chambers
- Cllr Derek Jones
- Cllr Howard Rolfe
- Cllr Sue Schneider
- Cllr Antoinette Wattebot
- Cllr Lesley Wells
- Cllr Andrew Yarwood
Councils have been given the responsibility for scrutinising local NHS trusts, including primary care trusts. Powers were further expanded by the Police and Justice Act 2006, which provided powers to scrutinise the work of crime and disorder reduction partnerships too.
What is the committee doing?
In 2010-11, the following scrutiny work is planned:
- Day centres
- Business Continuity
- CCTV
- Section 106 agreements
- Bridge End Garden (terms of reference)
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Enforcement priorities
Progress can be viewed at any time by following the link to the Scrutiny Committee's page on the Committee Management Information System.
Get involved
Scrutiny Committee meetings are open to the public and there is an opportunity to ask questions about agenda items at the start of each meeting.
From time to time our community will be asked for their views in order to inform scrutiny work. Keep an eye on this website for further information as it happens.
Petitions by you or action by a councillor
The Scrutiny Committee is appointed to receive some public petitions on council matters. For information on the council's petitions procedures, please contact Peter Snow, democratic and electoral services manager, on 01799 510430 or by emailing psnow@uttlesford.gov.uk
Your councillor can refer a matter to the Scrutiny Committee if all other avenues have been exhausted. Your councillor's contacts details can be found by following the below link to the councillors page.
Centre for Public Scrutiny
You can find out more about the role scrutiny plays by visiting the Centre for Public Scrutiny's website, which is also linked to below.