Article 6 – Overview and Scrutiny Committees

6.01 Terms of reference

The Council will appoint the overview and scrutiny committees set out below to discharge the functions conferred by section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 or regulations under section 32 of the Local Government Act 2000. The Council will vary the number and scope of committees from time to time.

Audit and Best Value Committee
The Committee has the following scope:

• Internal/external audit matters
• Economic development
• Strategic Management
• Property management
• Policy and Finance
• Legal and Democratic Services
• Personnel
• Communications
• Best Value reviews
• Scrutiny of functions not specifically within the scope of the other
• Scrutiny Committees

Community Services Committee
The Committee has the following scope:

• E Government
• Community Partnerships (inc Community Safety, Community Planning and Travellers)
• Community Services (Libraries, Adult Education and Arts; Trading Standards; Registrars; Archives)

Transport and Environment Committee
The Committee has the following scope:

• Planning
• Highways
• Waste management
• Transportation
• Environmental issues

Adult Social Care Committee
The Committee has the following scope:

• Delivery of Social Care
• Social Services where they relate to Adults and Older People
• Support for disabled people to live at home
• Services for people with mental health problems

Children’s Services Committee
The Committee has the following scope:

• Education services
• Social Services where they relate to children
• Health services exercised by the County Council where they relate to Children
• Inter-agency co-operation

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
This Committee is dealt with in paragraph 6.06

6.02 General role

Within their terms of reference, overview and scrutiny committees will:

1. review and/or scrutinise decisions made or actions taken in connection with the discharge of any of the Council's functions;
   
2. make reports and recommendations to the full Council and/or the Cabinet, joint or area committee in connection with the discharge of any functions;
   
3. consider any matter affecting the area or its inhabitants; and
   
4. exercise the right to call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet implemented by the Cabinet or any joint or area committees.

6.03 Specific functions

(a) Policy development and review. Overview and scrutiny committees may:

1. assist the Council and the Cabinet in the development of its budget and policy framework by in-depth analysis of policy issues;
2. conduct research, community and other consultation in the analysis of policy issues and possible options;
3. consider and implement mechanisms to encourage and enhance community participation in the development of policy options;
4. question members of the Cabinet and/or committees and the Chief Executive and Directors about their views on issues and proposals affecting the area; and
5. liaise with other external organisations operating in the area, whether national, regional or local, to ensure that the interests of local people are enhanced by collaborative working.

(b) Scrutiny. Overview and scrutiny committees may:

1. review and scrutinise the decisions made by and performance of the Cabinet and/or committees and council officers both in relation to individual decisions and over time;
2. review and scrutinise the performance of the Council in relation to its policy objectives, performance targets and/or particular service areas;
3. question members of the Cabinet and/or committees and the Chief Executive and Directors about their decisions and performance, whether generally in comparison with service plans and targets over a period of time, or in relation to particular decisions, initiatives or projects;
4. make recommendations to the Council and/or the Cabinet arising from the outcome of the scrutiny process;
5. review and scrutinise the performance of other public bodies in the area and invite reports from them by requesting them to address the overview and scrutiny committee and local people about their activities and performance; and
6. question and gather evidence from any person (with their consent).

(c) Finance. Overview and scrutiny committees may exercise overall responsibility for the finances made available to them.

6.04 Audit and Best Value Scrutiny Committee

The following specific functions have been given to the Audit and Best Value Scrutiny Committee:

1. To review and provide independent scrutiny in relation to all internal and external audit matters;
2. To consider the effectiveness of the Council’s risk management processes, internal control environment and corporate governance arrangements and to recommend any changes to Governance Committee or Cabinet as appropriate;
3. To consider the external auditor’s annual letter and the Chief Internal Auditor’s annual report and opinion and the level of assurance they can give over the Council’s risk management processes, internal control environment and corporate governance arrangements;
4. To review and scrutinise the effectiveness of management arrangements to ensure probity and legal and regulatory compliance, including, but not limited to contract procedure rules, financial regulations, codes of conduct , anti fraud and corruption arrangements and whistle-blowing policies;
5. To consider the major findings of internal and external audit and inspection reports, and Directors’ responses, and any matters the Chief Internal Auditor or District Auditor may wish to discuss (in the absence of Directors if necessary);
6. To review the Council’s assurance statements, including the Statement of Internal Control, ensuring that they properly reflect the risk environment, and any actions required to improve it;
7. To review the internal audit strategy and annual plan and the external auditor’s annual audit and inspection plan and to monitor performance of both internal and external audit;
8. To review the annual statement of accounts and the external auditor’s report to those charged with governance;
9. To manage the Best Value review programme of the County Council.

6.05 Community Services Scrutiny Committee

The following specific function has been given to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee:

• To scrutinise the East Sussex Safer Communities Steering Group.

6.06 Proceedings of overview and scrutiny committees

Overview and scrutiny committees will conduct their proceedings in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of this Constitution.

6.07 Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been established to perform the specific function given to local authorities to scrutinise the Health Services within their locality.