The Scrutiny
Committee is cross-party and made up of non-executive (backbench)
councillors. The Committee’s role is to carry out a
‘check and balance’ and ‘critical friend’
function to the Cabinet by reviewing policies, decisions and key
issues affecting residents.
Scrutiny operates to
provide public assurance that the Cabinet is carrying out its
business effectively, providing value for money and taking the best
decisions it can to improve public services and the quality of life
for the residents of Oxford. To provide this assurance, the
Committee carries out research, reviews and hears from independent
experts, making recommendations for service improvement where
necessary. The Committee also establishes standing panels to focus
on specific service areas (see below).
The Committee does
not have any decision making powers, but it can make
recommendations to the Cabinet arguing
for change and service improvement. The Committee will also
consider decisions that have been “called in” by
councillors for review. The committee meets approximately 10 times
a year.
Number of
Councillors: 12
Quorum: 4
Frequency: 10
scheduled meetings per year
Get involved at scrutiny committee meetings