CouncilFrequently asked questions
The overview and scrutiny committee and scrutiny lead councillors support the work of the cabinet and the council by acting as a ‘critical friend’. They give citizens a greater say in council matters by holding public inquiries into matters of local concern.
Overview and scrutiny therefore has the potential to make a real difference. It lets councillors stand back from the day to day demands and pressures and think through the key issues that are facing local communities and the council. It also monitors the decisions made by the cabinet and council and checks that services are getting better and working to improve the quality of life of local people.
Frequently asked questions
- What is overview and scrutiny?
- What does the overview and scrutiny committee do?
- Who sits on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee?
- Why is there a scrutiny panel specifically for health?
- What is a “call-in”?
- How do overview and scrutiny evaluate the work they have undertaken?
- Where can I access recent scrutiny review reports?
- Where and when do the overview and scrutiny committee meet?
- How can the public be involved in overview and scrutiny?
- How can I contact the scrutiny team?
What is overview and scrutiny?
Overview and scrutiny looks at how the council and its partners deliver services so that they meet local needs and contribute to the overall vision in the borough's community plan. It also monitors the decisions made by the council's cabinet to make sure that they are robust and provide good value for money.
Overview and scrutiny also has powers to review and scrutinise local health services and make recommendations to NHS bodies. It can also consider other issues of concern to local people, including services provided by other organisations. It then advises the cabinet, council and sometimes other partners, on how their policies and services can be improved.
What does the overview and scrutiny committee do?
The overview and scrutiny councillors main roles are to:
- look at how the council is performing by monitoring key strategies and plans
- look at the council’s budget and how it uses its resources each year
- set up time-limited working groups to look at issues in depth and make proposals for change - suggestions for topics may come from elected members, full council, the cabinet or from local organisations and residents
- consider decisions made by the cabinet that are `called in’. This happens if there is concern about the decision or what information was considered
- review briefly the reports that are going to cabinet for decision and raises any concerns.
Who sits on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee?
The Councillors are:
- Councillor Abdul Asad – Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Councillor Bill Turner – Vice – Chair, Scrutiny Lead for Excellent Public Services
- Councillor Waiseul Islam – Scrutiny Lead for a Great Place to Live
- Councillor Stephanie Eaton – Chair of the Healthy Communities and Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel
- Councillor A A Sardar – Scrutiny Lead for Prosperous Communities
- Councillor Ann Jackson – Scrutiny Lead for One Tower Hamlets
- Councillor Shiria Khatun – Scrutiny Lead for Safe and Supportive Communities
- Councillor Oliur Rahman
- Councillor Ahmed Hussain
- Councillor David Snowdon
- Councillor Abjol Miah
Co-optees
In addition to the councillors who sit on the committee, there are a number of co-opted members. Four co-optees can vote on education issues: these are a Roman Catholic representative, a Church of England representative and two parent governor representatives. There is also a non-voting representative of the Muslim community for education issues.
Two further co-optees sit on the Health Scrutiny Panel. These co-optees are representatives from the patient and public involvement forums of the Barts and London Hospitals..
Why is there a scrutiny panel specifically for health?
The government has given local councils specific responsibilities to scrutinise health services. We have set up a health scrutiny panel to do this and it can look at any matter about health services within the borough, including hospital and GP services, health promotion and prevention. This includes the way that health services are planned, how services are provided and how NHS organisations consult with local people. There is also a duty on local health services to consult with the health scrutiny panel if they are making substantial changes to services.
What is a “call-in”?
The overview and scrutiny committee monitor decisions taken on behalf of the council. If five or more councillors feel a decision is not appropriate, they can “call in” that decision for overview and scrutiny committee to consider further.
A decision must be called-in within five working days of the original decision. The councillors who call-in a decision must give their reasons for calling in the decision and give an alternative course of action. The overview and scrutiny committee hears both sides of the story and then decides whether to either: confirm the original decision or refer it back to cabinet and ask them to reconsider.
Some decisions cannot be called in such as those made by non-executive committees like planning or licensing, when a decision is urgent or when it has already been called-in.
How do overview and scrutiny evaluate the work they have undertaken?
Tower Hamlets are committed to making overview and scrutiny in Tower Hamlets as effective as possible. As part of this, we look at how we can do things better at the end of each review by asking those who have been involved what they thought of things. Once a year we also survey cabinet, overview and scrutiny members and backbench councillors to find out what they think and how overview and scrutiny work can be made more effective. The overview and scrutiny committee produce an annual report at the end of each year to summarise the work they have undertaken.
Where can I access recent scrutiny review reports?
Use this link to see scrutiny review reports
Where and when do the overview and scrutiny committee meet?
Overview and scrutiny meetings are held monthly and are open to the public to attend. To find out when meetings are taking place, view the Overview and Scrutiny Meeting Diary.
How can the public get involved in overview and scrutiny?
One of the roles of overview and scrutiny is to act as a community leader and pick up on issues that concern local people, communities and stakeholders.
The scrutiny team encourages people to participate in a variety of ways including:
- Inviting people to join our working groups
- Submitting written evidence
- Attending meetings as witnesses to give evidence and answer questions
- Using questionnaires, focus groups and telephone surveys
- Using East End Life to keep local people informed of scrutiny projects
You can contact the scrutiny policy team directly to suggest a future scrutiny topic or to comment on a past scrutiny review by completing the following Contact Scrutiny Form.
How can I contact the scrutiny team?
Use this link for further information on how to get involved or to contact the scrutiny team