Last week, dear scrutineer, I was talking to Chairperson Alex, and she had been pondering how to demonstrate that her scrutiny committee had been effective. “Can you show me the dialogue?” I asked. What do you mean? She said. Well, if it’s helpful, this was the thinking that I shared with her.

If your scrutiny work is being assessed, peer reviewed or, for better or worse, inspected, what kinds of things do you think the assessors, reviewers or, for better or worse, the inspectors, might be looking for?

Well one thing they might well be looking for is a dialogue between the executive and scrutiny. After all, as the scientists will tell you, we can all be influenced by dialogue.

Personally I’d say there are three levels of this.

First, I’d be looking to see dialogue between cabinet members and committee members in the scrutiny meetings that I observe. I’d want to see more than simply answers to questions (these can be value in this of course if it provides assurance that the executive member is on top of their brief). I’d be looking out for follow up questions and some back-and-forth so that new understandings and ideas develop. On both sides.

Less like an interview and more like a conversation.

Second, I’d want to see what gets captured through minutes, agendas and reports. At scrutiny, cabinet and council. I’d be looking for concerns and recommendations from scrutiny that have been responded to by the executive with scrutiny responding again in turn.

I’d be looking for an audit trail of what I’ve heard described as the feedback loop between scrutiny and executive.

Third, because we know that productive, professional relationships depend upon informal as well as formal contact, so I’d be looking for evidence of this taking place. Maybe briefings between scrutiny chairs and executive members, maybe executive members joining scrutiny work planning conversations and maybe scrutiny support officers talking to senior officers or the executives themselves. I’ve heard examples of all of these in different councils.

Alex seemed happy that her scrutiny committee would be able to “show me the dialogue” if I ever asked. At least to a degree.

But what about you, dear scrutineer? If an assessor, a reviewer or, for better or worse, an inspector, came to you and said “show me the dialogue”, what will you show them?

#scrutiny #dearscrutineer #reflection

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