Category: News
Scrutiny guidance update
Happy New Year! Well, 2018 came and went and you will have noticed that the scrutiny guidance is still conspicuous by its absence. Government undertook to the Select Committee that guidance would be published by the end of the calendar year. I’m afraid I can’t provide any certainty about the likely publication date – we […]
Accounting for Social Value in Scrutiny
Social value is a concept that has gained significant awareness in recent years. Legislation in the UK has increased its prominence, and research shows that many local authorities are considering it when they make their commissioning and procurement decisions. This is really great news – and also aligns with an increasing global recognition and convergence […]
Strategies for Success – Local Government Scrutiny Annual Conference 2018, 4th December 2018
The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny hosted a well attended and engaging national conference focusing on the current challenges facing scrutiny and sharing examples of excellent scrutiny work throughout the UK. With almost 200 attendees, the event saw a range of high profile national speakers and an opportunity for delegates from local government to discuss […]
Scrutiny as a friend to chaos
Is there a role for scrutiny when a council faces big and scary challenges? Does scrutiny step forward or slip back when the task becomes complex and risky? CfGS argue that there is no place for ‘shy scrutiny’. There has never been a topsy-turvier time in local government. Finances continue to decline, the pressures get […]
Resources for finance scrutiny
Resources for finance scrutiny We think that scrutiny of council finances (and of budget development) should be year-round – a continued, sustained conversation between scrutiny and the executive. In fact, I’ve blogged about it before. However, we recognise that for many, budget scrutiny is something that involves activity clustering around the back end of the […]
An update on the scrutiny guidance
An update on the scrutiny guidance I wanted to share an update with you on our, and MHCLG’s, progress on the drafting of the scrutiny guidance. We have now completed the draft of the sections that MHCLG asked us to write, and I’m waiting for them to send the latest draft back to me so […]
Elected chairs for scrutiny
One of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s recommendations on overview and scrutiny last year was that we should pilot arrangements for the election of overview and scrutiny chairs. The Committee was intrigued by the idea of bringing in a secret ballot for chair elections – presumably because of the positive experience of these […]
To pick or not to pick: A question of work planning
Last month the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) was consulting on proposals for new statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny in local government. The eagerly awaited Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) text is due to be published in December 2018, and local authorities are required to ‘have regard to’ it’s content. […]
To pick or not to pick: A question of work planning
Last month the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) was consulting on proposals for new statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny in local government. The eagerly awaited Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) text is due to be published in December 2018, and local authorities are required to ‘have regard to’ it’s content. […]
ENGIE Scrutiny Board
Energy and services business, ENGIE UK is leading the way in its commitment to operate at the highest economic, social and environmental standards. In-line with the company’s belief in responsibilities that go beyond traditional business drivers, ENGIE wanted to develop a new Responsible Business Charter to evaluate its work in this area and examine what […]