Archived decisions

1. Role of Lead Scrutineers

1.1 The role of Lead Scrutineers was originally outlined in Hampshire County Council's draft Select Committee (formerly Policy Review) Committee Operating Protocol, 2006. See Appendix One. It is intended that the role will involve:

· a Select Committee member being identified as taking a close interest in a specific service or function in order to ensure that the Select Committee is able to carry out the most effective `critical friend' role in relation to the areas of interest covered by that service/function.

In practice this could mean the Lead Scrutineer meeting lead departmental officer/s for those areas of interest once every six months to hear about their successes, achievements, and the challenges they face, tracking public opinion on the relevant subject areas, looking at performance information etc.

· advising the Select Committee via the chairman.

Advice could be in relation to when there needed to be a Member briefing about something, proposing items for Select Committee meetings, identifying possible topics for scrutiny, contributing to raising other committee members awareness.

1.2 In addition, the expertise developed through the role would be invaluable in

the contribution to be made in scrutiny reviews.

1.3 The 2007 review of scrutiny included in its recommendations consideration of

ways of supporting Members in building a knowledge base of, and

engagement with, the work of the County Council, including the lead scrutineer role.

2. Possible Lead Scrutineer areas of interest

2.1 In relation to the terms of reference of the Environment and Transportation

Select Committee, possible areas of interest for Lead Scrutineers are:

- Sustainability and climate change

- Minerals and Waste

- Water and air

- Biodiversity

- Highways and Transport

Appendix One

LEAD SCRUTINEERS

1. What would the role of a Lead Scrutineer be?

· Each Lead Scrutineer would report specifically to a PRC via its Chairman.

_ There could also be a role in then keeping Executive members informed of issues that are arising but this would be a consequence of discussions with the PRC Chairman.

· The role would be to take a close interest in a specific service or function in order to ensure that the PRC was able to carry out the most effective `critical friend' role around that area.

_ In practice this would mean the Lead Scrutineer meeting with the lead officer / officers (if it is cross-cutting) for that service / function once every 6 months to hear about their successes and achievements and the challenges they face as well as to look at any performance monitoring information about the effectiveness of the service.

· From this contact the Lead Scrutineer should then be able to advise the PRC Chairman (and thereby the scrutiny function):

_ When there needed to be a Member briefing about something within that service (either as part of the PRC or on the programme for all Members).

_ Whether there were any issues which the PRC should ask for a report on as an item of scrutiny

_ When there were any topics in this area which should be put forward as possible thematic reviews

2. What Services / Functions would have Lead Scrutineers?

· PRCs would select their own Lead Scrutineer areas when they are ready to do so. The areas can be reviewed and changed at any time by a PRC. There would be some basic guidelines as to selecting topic areas:

_ it should be a sufficiently large and `stand alone' element of service delivery for lead officers to be clearly identified

_ there should not be too many of them for each PRC

_ Maybe Services with low profile could request a PRC to consider having a Lead Scrutineer.

3. How would Lead Scrutineers be chosen?

· Members should be selected on the basis of whether they are interested in the topic area and actually have time to perform the role. Once a PRC has identified an area volunteers would be sought form the Membership of the PRC

· Political party should be of no relevance

· If there are several volunteers for one area then the PRC Chairman would allocate the role.

· If there are no volunteers then there would not be a Lead Scrutineer for that area and the PRC would consider other ways to cover the topic.

4. What support & skills would a Lead Scrutineer need?

· When identified Lead Scrutineers will be briefed on:

_ the remit of the role

_ understanding performance information

_ how to be a critical friend

· They would need to:

_ be able to maintain an objective approach (get the right balance between `critical' and `friend')

_ have good questioning skills

_ Analyse information in a questioning way

_ Keep up to date with the subject area

· Any Member development conferences / external briefings they want to attend to enhance this role should have the support of the PRC Chairman and be dealt with in the normal way (i.e. be approved by the Chief Executive after consultation with the Leader /other Executive Member in accordance with delegated powers).

5. What would Lead Scrutineers need to guard against?

· Getting so involved in the service that is makes it difficult to have a critical as well as friendly eye

· Setting up too many meetings with Officers - it is not a `being in their pocket' situation nor should it interfere with time officers need to run their service

· Seeing it as a role which is about asking for reports to be written etc The focus should be on information already available. Any new requests information / report should come via the PRC after discussion about what outcome they would be aiming to achieve.

· All work should be done with relevant officers so as to qualify for allowances under the County Council's Members Allowances Scheme. Members may not claim travelling expenses for meetings attended / journeys undertaken alone if each journey has not been individually authorised. (This is requested for audit purposes and Members own protection in terms of best practice.)

Philippa Smart. Scrutiny Officer. 23 September 2008