Scrutiny

Scrutiny commissions

Since the appointment of Commissioners in March 2015, Commissioners have engaged with elected members to determine a realistic and focused scrutiny work programme for 2015-16, clearly identifying the areas to be prioritised through scrutiny of:

  • The Council’s budget – Overview and Scrutiny Management Board
  • Plans and services designed to tackle child sexual exploitation – Improving Lives
  • Health and social care integration agenda – Health
  • Litter and waste (to include fly-tipping) - Improving Places (task and finish groups)

The scrutiny work programme helps to achieve corporate priorities by addressing key policy and performance agendas and outcomes and focus on added value to the work of the council.

Investigations into issues affecting Rotherham are carried out by management board and the select commissions. These can be in the form of:

  • Big picture reviews examining cross-cutting issues involving many Council sections
  • More focused reviews, examining a particular problem, policy or service
  • One-off reviews into a particular issue or decision

As part of the review, the working groups collect evidence from many sources. These can include:

  • Discussions with witnesses including Council officers, service users or representatives of outside bodies
  • Written submissions
  • Site visits or mystery shopping
  • Examining good practice from other councils or agencies
  • Commissioned research

The group would submit its findings in a written report to the relevant select commission.