Introducing a new model of overview & scrutiny

Introducing the New Model of Overview & Scrutiny

May 2010

From May 2010, Overview and Scrutiny in the City & County of Swansea Council will work in a different way

This guide explains why it is changing and how it will work

But first, what exactly isOverview & Scrutiny?

Overview & Scrutiny…

• Involves councillors who are not in the cabinet • Works a bit like parliamentary select committees • Purpose is to improve local public services and hold

decision makers to account

The Aim is:

To provide ‘critical friend’ challenge to the executive (and decision makers) by undertaking a range of overview and scrutiny activities to ensure that improvement is delivered, sustained and embedded.

The Structure of Overview & Scrutiny

• There are 5 Overview & Scrutiny Boards– Child and Family Services– Children, Young People & Learning– Environment & Communities– Health, Social Care & Wellbeing– Performance and Finance

• And 2 Committees– Partnership– Business

Why is Overview & Scrutiny Changing?

Overview & ScrutinyImprovement Programme

• 5 sessions held from March to December 2009 • Input from range of experts• Resulted in action plan based on 5 themes:

– Improve the Critical Friend Challenge – Develop New Methods of Public Engagement– Improve Relationships with Partners– Improve Communication– Develop Cross-Border Scrutiny

The Child & Family Services Overview & Scrutiny Experience

• Established April 09 in response to inspection report• Pioneered range of new approaches• Very positive feedback from inspectors / Intervention

Board

How Will Overview & ScrutinyBe Different?

How Will it Be Different?

• More effective challenge to the Cabinet• More robust performance monitoring• More time and commitment• Greater impact

New Tools

• Direct dialogue with Cabinet Member(s) through Chairs letters

• Questioning strategies• Pre / post meetings for board meetings

What Will Be the Benefits?

• Councillors will be doing ‘real’ scrutiny and making a difference

• Genuine team working and cross party consensus • Increased councillor knowledge • Productive and challenging relationship with Cabinet

Member(s)

How Will it Work?

Activities

• Work Planning• Evidence Gathering• Report Writing• Following Up

The ‘Critical Friend’ Process

Performance Issue

QuestioningStrategy

ConsiderResponses

Chair’sLetter

Preparation/Pre Meeting

Questioning /Board Meeting

Following Up

Reviewing/Post Meeting

The Review Process

Policies /Services

ScopingReport

FindingsReport

FinalReport

Scoping

EvidenceGathering

Following Up

ReportWriting

The Referral Process

CabinetCouncil

O&S Committee

ReportTo Board

ConsiderResponse

ReportFrom Board

Referral

EvidenceGathering

Following Up

ReportWriting

Services Provided by the Overview & Scrutiny Unit

• Project Management• Research & Analysis• Report Writing & Communications• Relationship Building• All provided with tact and political sensitivity

Quotes From Child & Family Services Board Members

“It’s important to focus on the fact that this is a good process not just about good individuals”

“All of the parts make a good team”

“It takes time but only because we are now more forensic”

“Sometime the professionals are too close – we can step back and look at it from outside”

“The high level of attendance shows how people feel about it” “It’s been good to talk to people actually doing the job”

Ask the right questionsInvestigate and proposeWays we can improve

Overview & Scrutiny Haiku