O&S health check
From time to time O&S committees may find it instructive to do a self evaluation. They can consider the way they conduct enquiries. They can look more broadly at the impact they are making on corporate governance.
The following two questionnaires, one with suggested responses, may help them to this end.
Conducting an enquiry
Why are we conducting this enquiry?
- requested by the executive/ cabinet
- review of corporate priorities
- requested by a member
- annual review of key policy
- under performing service
- statutory obligation
- under the terms of an SLA with an external partner
- response to public consultation
What are the objectives of the enquiry?
- monitor performance
- pre-decision scrutiny of a key decision
- develop new policy
- understand the reasons for under performance
How have we gathered the evidence?
- officer research
- workshop of interested parties
- external witnesses, including expert witnesses
- commissioned survey
- site visit
- public meeting
How have we involved non executive members?
- proposer of topic of enquiry
- member of task and finish group
- witness
- support for work programme
What has been the purpose of our recommendations?
- support for existing strategy/ policy/practice
- changes to existing strategy/policy/practice
- support for new policy
- response to consultation
What is the expected outcome?
- contribution to economic and social well-being of residents
- internal efficiency/ cost savings/ income generation
How do we measure success?
- our recommendations have been accepted and implemented
- we have responded to a vital resident need
- we have had wide member support
Impact on corporate governance
During the past year:
Have you followed a well thought out and fully resourced work programme, aligned to Council priorities and residents’ concerns?
How would you characterise your relationships with the executive? Are they cooperative or confrontational?
How well do you consider you hold the decision makers to account?
Do you invite the leader and chief executive to appear before your committee once a year to explain their priorities and answer questions?
How are you perceived by members? Independent or an appendage of the executive? Do you do an annual report to Full Council?
How many specific recommendations did you make at your meetings, and how many were accepted and implemented? Did you monitor implementation on a systematic basis?
Have you had the cooperation you needed from officers including the provision of accurate information, to conduct your enquiries?
What opportunities did you have to comment on major issues facing the Council such as a new business model, devolution plans etc prior to decision by cabinet? And what notice was taken of your comments?
Did the committee have any influence in setting the budget and medium term financial strategy or in proposing new revenue streams?
Did you conduct at least one in depth enquiry into a principal service such as housing, community safety, leisure services, care for the elderly?
Did you hold meetings with external partners providing a local service in collaboration with your Council?
Are you satisfied you have the right structure in terms of committee/s, panels, task and finish groups, frequency of meetings and agenda management to fulfil your objectives?
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If you are interested in a more formal evaluation of your effectiveness, that would take in a broader and more detailed range of criteria, we should be pleased to help facilitate such an evaluation.
We can provide more details including fee on request.