Category: News
2021 annual survey: main findings
Our annual survey of overview and scrutiny in local government is published today (7 July). It’s been the first opportunity to fully assess the impact of the pandemic on councils’ scrutiny functions, and to think about the role that scrutiny might play as we set about the task of recovery. Councils’ approaches on, and successes […]
Financial scrutiny
New municipal year, new financial year – same pressures. We move into quarter 2 of 2021/22 still struggling to shake off the pandemic, and still facing unprecedented uncertainty about fundamental aspects of the way we do business. In our recent annual survey – full findings of which will published in the coming days – 78% […]
Devolution and combined authorities: common themes so far
This week we published two practical guides for those involved, or with an interest in, local governance, combined authorities (CAs) and devolution. Our COVID-19 ‘lessons learnt’ style debrief highlights the governance changes that took place within CAs as they responded to the crisis and considers the governance risks as we enter the recovery phase. Our […]
Anticipating, managing and adapting to ‘No overall control’
Reflections and considerations for those operating in authorities that have experienced no overall control, authorities that are politically contestable, and single party councils
An update on the forthcoming Health and Care Bill
Last week we held a webinar for councillors and officers on the subject of the forthcoming Health and Care Bill. We were joined by colleagues in the Bill team at the Department for Health and Social Care, who heard the views of scrutiny practitioners about the likely changes which the Bill will bring about. There […]
Good governance and corporate responsibility through scrutiny
Over the past year, organisations across all sectors have experienced new complexities in shifting to a different operating environment and unparalleled challenges that have inevitably tested organisational culture and governance. In this current context, many organisations in the private and not-for-profit sectors are reflecting on how to implement resilient governance practices that help achieve their […]
Independent Scrutiny Board reports back on Mears Performance
An independently chaired panel of customer representatives has published its first annual report on the performance of housing provider Mears – you can read the report here. The Scrutiny Board was set up in 2020 to work alongside the Mears PLC Board to provide oversight, challenge and support to improve Mears services. Chaired by Terrie […]
ENGIE’s Scrutiny Board reports on progress
An update on our work with ENGIE. ENGIE launched their Responsible Business Charter in 2018 which included commitments in the four areas of: fair business growth, transparency and accountability, being a fair employer, and supporting communities and the environment. These commitments are owned and governed at Group CEO and UK CEO level and aligned to […]
Remote meetings partnership: compendium of information on remote meetings
In England, a partnership of national organisations came together in March 2020 to support councils to put remote meetings arrangements in place. In recent months, the partnership has been co-ordinating discussion on the planned end of remote meeting powers on 6 May 2021, and exploring alternative options and actions to mitigate. This document is intended […]
Best Value intervention: what is it and what does it mean for local accountability?
Last week the Secretary of State announced his intention to exercise his powers to appoint commissioners to run certain services operated by Liverpool City Council. This is a big, and rare, event – only four councils since 2010 have previously been subject to this kind of intervention (for the completists, they are, in reverse order, […]