Overview and Scrutiny is part of the political process introduced in 2000 by the government to modernise the way local authorities conduct their business. It plays a vital role in the decision-making and policy development processes at the Council and is an innovative development in the democratic process because it gives an independent view.

Effectively, the Scrutiny process is like the Council having its own 'watchdog'. It is a process that provides a chance to get a second opinion on key decisions made by the Council's Executive. It can also be used to inform and review any of the Council's plans, policies or strategies or question existing practices of the Council or any other public services causing concern.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs)  make recommendations and scrutinise the policies, decisions and performance of the Executive. The Executive in turn consults with and responds to the OSC recommendations.

Decisions made by the Executive (or a Committee of the Executive, individual Executive Member or Officer on a key issue under delegation) but not yet implemented can be ‘called-in’ for reconsideration in certain circumstances. The Overview and Scrutiny Committees have the responsibility for looking into these call-in requests.

According to the Constitution of Central Bedfordshire Council, decisions can be called in by either:

• An individual member where a decision has particular significance for that member’s ward; or
• The chairman of the relevant overview and scrutiny committee; or
• Any two members of the relevant overview and scrutiny committee;
• Any three non-executive members of the Council.

Call-ins requested must be made on the relevant form, and reasons for the call-in request must be given. Call-ins can be made no later than noon on the eighth day after the decision is made. The full Call-In Procedure is contained within Part D2 section 10 of the Central Bedfordshire Constitution.

The relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee must consider the call-in at the next available meeting. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has several options after consideration of the call-in:

• ask the decision-maker to reconsider the decision; and/or
• make recommendations to the decision-maker for a solution; 
• agree with the decision; and/or
• refer the matter to full Council, if the matter relates to an issue outside the Budget and Policy Framework. 

Call-ins received

The following call-ins have been received by the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, please click on the decisions to view further information:

• Proposed cycle track order on Saxons Close to Hockliffe Road service road, Leighton Buzzard (September 2010) 
• Petition to change speed limits in Husborne Crawley (May 2010)
• Supported local bus services - budget pressures 2009/10 (September 2009)

Each Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a work programme (PDF 76KB) listing the issues it will consider during the year. Items in the work programme have been suggested by residents, Members or those that have been called-in. Residents are encouraged to get involved in setting the work programme by telling us what issues concern you.

For an item to be added to the work programme (PDF 76KB) there must be the potential for Members to make a difference. When selecting which topics are a priority for the work programme Members consider the following:

• Is there public interest in the item?
• Is there potential for a high level of impact?
• Is there evidence of poor performance?

This work programme is regularly kept up to date and is published in the related documents section below. The work programme (PDF 435KB) regularly changes so please check for any updates if there is an item you are interested in. If you would like to suggest an issue for the work programme please contact the Overview and Scrutiny team.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committees publish an annual report (PDF 429KB) (2010-11) in June each year setting out the issues they have been involved with. The report sets out some of the outcomes achieved by the Committees and the major issues that have been reviewed.

You can also view previous annual reports by clicking on the links below:-

• 2009 - 10 Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report (PDF 5.1MB)

The Overview and Scrutiny toolkit (PDF 435KB) is a useful resource for those involved with or interested in the Overview and Scrutiny Committees. The toolkit (PDF 435KB) provides more detail on the process as well as practical advice for witnesses, officers and Members.

The Council's Constitution allows any member of the public to speak at a meeting of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) on any issue relevant to the OSC or on any specific agenda item. You will usually have three minutes to speak and a response is usually provided at the meeting or in writing afterwards. If you would like to speak at an OSC meeting no notice is required although there is a short form (PDF 15KB) to complete at least 15 minutes before the start. If notice is given however, it will be easier to give a more detailed reply at the meeting. 

2. Submitting a petition or e-petition

A petition or e-petition can be submitted to the Monitoring Officer of the council at any time subject to the principles contained in the Council's Constitution. If the petition is accepted and there is at least 7 days notice then it will be submitted to the next relevant decision making body (i.e. the Council, Executive or other Committee).  If an organiser feels that there has been an inadequate response to their petition then a relevant OSC can review that response.

3. Suggest an item for the work programme

The work programmes (PDF 76KB) of the OSCs are flexible and are considered at each OSC meeting. You can suggest an item to be added to the work programme of an OSC at any time by contacting the Overview and Scrutiny team. The OSC does not however consider individual complaints, it focuses on strategic issues.

Procedures covering each of these are contained in the Council's Constitution.