“What’s the best structure for scrutiny? And why is it the single committee system?” This is what Chairperson Alex said to me last week and, although she was half joking, I think I agree with her. So, if you are looking to review your scrutiny arrangements, involved in creating a new council or just wondering if your structure is the right one, see if my thinking stacks up for you. I’d say, the single committee system is best for scrutiny because: It’s more strategic. A single committee gets...
10 days ago • 1 min read
How does scrutiny actually make a difference? What are the exact mechanisms through which scrutiny influences the executive? It’s a tricky topic but here are ten suggestions. See if they ring true for you. I’m looking at this from a realist perspective. This is an approach that encourages us to identify the social mechanisms that might explain how a particular programme might achieve its outcomes. Take the example of CCTV in car parks, discussed by Pawson and Tilley in their book Realistic...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Dear scrutineer, see what you think about this scenario. It’s the end of the item on the transport strategy and Vice Chair Jo is inviting the scrutiny committee to agree some conclusions and recommendations. Councillor Lewis has his hand up.“Can we recommend that we have a briefing note on the active travel plan, please?” There is the briefest hint of a frown on Jo’s face, but she catches it before anyone notices. “Yes, we can certainly put that in the mix, Councillor Lewis.” She’s conflicted...
29 days ago • 1 min read
I hope you had a good summer. I've certainly had a good summer break and now I'm looking forward to a new season for these ‘Dear Scrutineer’ reflections. So, welcome back to my existing subscribers and hello to those who have joined recently - I hope you all find these emails useful. And I thought I’d start with a mini annual report. Between September, when I started, and July, I shared 40 reflections via this email and on LinkedIn. It's interesting to see what resonated, so here are the five...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Do you ever think about scrutiny as reflective practice? I mentioned it in a development session I was facilitating the other day and it seemed to strike a chord. So, I thought I might share a reflection! To start with, as I’m sure you appreciate, scrutiny operates in a complex world and there is no simple manual to help guide you. And, as we’ve mentioned before, whilst every committee, council and place is different, so each is also in a constant state of change. What worked in one place and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Vice Chair Jo asked me for a chat the other day. She was thinking about co-opting additional members to a scrutiny task and finish group and feeling a bit conflicted. Here is how we talked it though - what do you think? The group was being set up to look at adult social care and Jo was thinking about three people that it might be helpful to work with - one from the carers centre, an academic from the local university and someone who is a non-executive member of the integrated care board. Jo...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hello, something slightly different today. I wanted to share some initial thinking with you about what it means to be a 21st Century Scrutineer and see if it resonates with you. As you might know, over the last couple of years I’ve been working with Catherine Mangan and Catherine Needham to research what it means to be a 21st Century Public Servant and a 21st Century Councillor, given the new challenges facing public services and democracy. You can find that work here, in case you are not...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello, here is a prayer for your scrutiny committee, in case you find it useful. --------------------- As we sit down around this committee table May we be the best version of our scrutiny selves May we work together with respect and compassion And always remember the citizens we seek to serve As we steady ourselves for our scrutiny work May we feel confident about the tasks before us May we feel well prepared And ready to challenge constructively As we start our first item May we be sure of...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Once upon a time, dear scrutineer, there was a senior officer called Ralph who worked as a director at three different councils. Here is his scrutiny story. I wonder what you’ll make of it? At the first, Strawbridge District Council, Ralph’s relationship to scrutiny was as a witness, appearing before the scrutiny committee to present reports and answer questions. At this council, it was generally the officers who did this, cabinet members, when they did attend, sat with the committee members...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Kostas, a scrutiny officer I know, was telling me about what he thought was a funny moment before a meeting the other week. He said it was ok to share, so, as long as you keep it to yourself, here it is. The chair of the committee that Kostas supports was talking to him about how to get the committee members out of their obvious cliques. Every meeting they all sit together in their political groups, which means that, for one thing, scrutiny doesn’t feel as cross-party as it should. For...
4 months ago • 1 min read