The Local Government Act 2000 required Councils to set up new structures and procedures to replace the traditional committee system.  One of the main aspects of these changes was to require each authority to establish one or more Overview and Scrutiny Committees to review and scrutinise decisions made and actions taken relating to the discharge of the Council’s functions.  The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 extended the powers of Overview and Scrutiny Committees, enabling them to form joint committees and require information from partner organisations on a wide range of issues. This booklet is intended to provide guidance to members, officers and others who may be involved with Overview and Scrutiny bodies in Leicestershire.

The Health and Social Care Act 2001 extended the powers of Overview and Scrutiny Committees of Social Services authorities to include the power to review and scrutinise matters relating to the Health Service in the authority’s area.  The Council has produced a separate guide for those involved in Overview and Scrutiny of health services, although some aspects of this booklet may also be useful to those involved in that process.

The effective development and operation of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny functions is arguably one of the most difficult aspects of the arrangements introduced in the Local Government Act 2000 and requires members who serve in that area to change the way they approach their work, essentially to ensure that Overview and Scrutiny is a genuinely member led process.  However, it is also important to recognise that while Overview and Scrutiny would appear to be separate from other aspects of the Council’s work, in reality it is just one aspect of the County Council as a single statutory corporate body.  As such, it needs to work constructively with other parts of the organisation, particularly in relation to planning its work programme, to make the best use of the Council’s resources.

As time goes by members and officers alike are developing their skills in this activity of the Council which, in turn, has meant that the Overview and Scrutiny process in Leicestershire is improving.  Indeed this has been borne out by the result of external inspections.  This guide is intended to assist in ensuring that this process of improvement continues.