Category: News
CfGS report on scrutiny improvements for Northamptonshire County Council
The CfGS report on scrutiny improvements for Northamptonshire County Council has been published and was approved by the Council meeting at its meeting 20th September 2018. Click here to read the report. CfGS is now working with the county council to support the implementation of our recommendations. For more information please contact Ian Parry on ian.parry@cfgs.org.uk […]
Local Government financial governance and scrutiny – passing the robustness test?
This week will see even more talk of the financial challenges facing councils, if that’s actually possible. Looking at CfGS activities for the week, we’re talking financial resilience at the LGC Summit, it’s the inaugural CIPFA CfGS Councillor Conference and at our national health scrutiny and assurance conference on Friday we expect finance talk to […]
#scrutinysuccess
On 4th December, the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny will host its annual local government scrutiny conference in London where around 150 scrutiny practitioners will gather to focus on this year’s theme of ‘Strategies for Success’. At the event we would like to showcase examples of scrutiny work that you are most proud of. To […]
Government guidance on overview and scrutiny to be published in December
(EDIT, September 2018: We have now published more information about the overview and scrutiny guidance, which you can find here) We are working with MHCLG to produce guidance on the operation of local authority overview and scrutiny, which we expect will be published during December. This guidance follows the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s […]
Strategies for Success – Local Government Scrutiny Conference
Exploring the big issues in local government scrutiny and governance Join more than 150 colleagues from scrutiny, governance and policy from across local government to discuss the latest issues affecting the sector. This conference sold out in advance in 2017 so we recommend you book early to secure your place and at the best rate – Super […]
Quoracy issues in combined authority scrutiny
What do you do if not enough councillors turn up to a meeting for it to be quorate? Until recently this was perhaps a rather arcane point of procedure. Inquoracy in ordinary council meetings is really very unusual. But the advent of scrutiny at combined authority level has thrown the issue into the spotlight. This […]
Annual scrutiny survey results: scrutiny and cultural change
We have recently published key statistics and a one-page infographics sharing the results of our annual scrutiny survey. This year seemed to be a much more positive one for scrutiny, which is reflected in a number of important indicators going up and an overall hopeful outlook for the future. However, numerous constraints are still present, […]
Local government scrutiny 2017/18 – survey top-line findings
A summary of the findings from CfGS’s scrutiny perceptions survey 2017/18 This graphic summarises some of the top-line findings from this year’s annual survey perception survey. Previous year results are available here. We have already published key statistics from the survey and will share further analysis through a series of blogs in the near future.
Local government scrutiny 2017/18 – annual scrutiny survey results
Since 2003 we have been asking members and officers about the state of scrutiny in their authorities. Many a time results have been rather grim, with scrutiny impact considered to be quite low and scrutiny constraints to be too numerous. This year, however, we are excited to report that 2017/18 seems to be quite a […]
The impact of scrutiny in the healthcare system – guest blog
Councillor Jonathan Glanz, from Westminster City Council, provides valuable insight in to scrutiny of health and wellbeing. Scrutiny adds value in a number of areas, particularly when it drives improved services and outcomes for residents. Here at Westminster City Council, the Adults and Health Policy and Scrutiny Committee set up a task group in 2017 to […]