The other day I was speaking to Cabinet Member Kate and asked her if there were any scrutiny councillors that got her attention more than others. Sure, she said, some definitely have the credibility factor. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I listen more when they speak.

Wanting to know more about this ‘credibility factor’ I asked her to explain it.

Well, she said, It’s not any one single thing. I’m not sure I can describe it exactly.

I suggested she pick some examples to see if we could make sense of it.

So okay, she explained, there is one chair of our adult services scrutiny committee that springs to mind. He has been involved in social care for years and was a cabinet member before. You know this issue is something he cares about deeply and he really has studied it in depth.

Yes, when he asks a question or makes a point you know it’s coming from a place of pretty deep experience. I might not always agree with him, but I know I need to engage with it, if that makes sense?

Interesting, I said. Any other examples of scrutiny councillors who have this credibility factor?

Well, there is someone else who occurs to me.

All of this councillor’s contributions seem to have some conversation or other behind them. I remember we had a meeting about foster care one time and they had been talking to some of the foster parents and were bringing that to the conversation.

Not always, but sometimes, those points from people experiencing our services have been pretty powerful to hear.

Now I think about it, I guess I’m listening to this particular councillor because I know they are good at listening to others. It’s hard not to respect that. It has more substance than just an opinion, you know?

Ah, and a more general point, she said.

I feel there is more credibility when someone listens to what you say as cabinet member and is not just focussed on their own question or speech they want to make.

I mean, you can go through a meeting with that pattern of someone asks a question, you give an answer and then it’s just ‘thank you’. I mean, that’s fine and I’m happy to do it, but it does make you sit up a bit when someone one asks a follow-up based on what you just said. I guess people who do that will go up a point in my estimation.

So, anyway, dear scrutineer, I thought all this would be helpful to pass on.

And maybe you know scrutiny councillors who get the attention of cabinet members more than others?

Do they have the credibility factor? Do you know what gives them that special something?

By the way, you can see/add comments on this reflection on LinkedIn here.