Overview and scrutiny committee meaning

In legal practice, an overview and scrutiny committee is the council committee that publicly examines executive decisions and performance, develops and reviews policy, and holds the executive to account. In England (and in Wales), the term is statutory: the Local Government Act 2000, s 21 (as amended) requires authorities operating executive arrangements to appoint one or more overview and scrutiny committees; in Wales the framework is set by the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Typical functions include reviewing or scrutinising executive decisions (including “call-in” before implementation), making reports and recommendations to the executive or full council, requiring executive members and senior officers to attend and provide information, considering issues referred by councillors (Councillor Call for Action), and examining areas of council activity not the responsibility of the executive and matters of wider local concern. Executive members may not sit on these committees; sub-committees can be appointed. Health scrutiny is often discharged by a dedicated overview and scrutiny committee under health legislation. Combined authorities must also maintain overview and scrutiny arrangements under the 2009 Act (as amended). In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland the label is not generally used in statute; comparable scrutiny occurs...