Regional Networks

 

Here you will find information on each of the operating Regional Scrutiny Networks, as well as blogs and case studies.

 

North West Employers Network

Chair of the Network – TBC

Vice Chair – Howard Ballard, Wyre Borough Council, howard.ballard@wyre.gov.uk 

Lead Officer – Maxwell Foster-Currie, Maxwellf@nwemployers.org.uk

Website – https://nwemployers.org.uk/upcoming-events/

Next Meeting – 26 January 2024, 14:00 – 15:30. For more information on how to join the network meetings contact Maxwell.

Meeting documents – please follow this link to find the archive of meeting documents for this network: North West Scrutiny Network Document Archive – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

 

County and Unitary Network

Chair of the Network – John Cade – J.Cade@bham.ac.uk

Lead Officer – Melanie White – melanie.white@iow.gov.uk, Telephone 01983 821000 ext 8876

Minute Secretary- Charlotte Cameron – charlotte.cameron@peterborough.gov.uk

Website – N/A

Next Meetings – 8 March 2024, 14 June 2024, 13 September 2024, 6 December 2024

The meetings usually begin at 11am. For more information on how to join the network meetings, contact John. 

Meeting documents – please follow this link to find the archive of meeting documents for this network: County and Unitary Network Meeting Document Archive – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

 

West Midlands

Chair of the Network – Currently vacant, TBC

Lead Officer – Gennie Holmes – gennie.holmes@coventry.gov.uk

Website – N/A

Next Meetings – 15^th March 2024- provisional time 10am. For more information on how to join the network meetings contact Gennie.

 

South West Councils

Chair of the Network – Rotating between members

Lead Officer – Jean Painter, jean.painter@swcouncils.gov.uk 

Website – https://swcouncils.gov.uk/

Next Meeting – TBC.

Meeting documents – please follow this link to find the archive of meeting documents for this network:

South West Network Meeting Document Archive – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

 

East Midlands

Chair of the Network – Cllr Gill Mercer.

Lead Officer – Lisa Butterfill, East Midlands Councils, lisa.butterfill@emcouncils.gov.uk

Website – https://www.emcouncils.gov.uk/Practitioner-Networks/east-midlands-scrutiny-network/42100 

Next Meeting – TBC. For more information on how to join the network meetings contact Lisa.

 

Combined Authorities Governance Network

Chair of the Network – 

Lead Officer- Ed Hammond, ed.hammond@cfgs.org.uk

Website- N/A

Next Meeting- TBC. For more information on how to join the network meetings contact Ed.

 

North East

Chair of the Network – Joint Scrutiny Members Officers Network, Cllr Wendy Taylor- wendy.taylor@newcastle-libdems.org.uk

Lead Officer – Joan Stevens – joan.stevens@hartlepool.gov.uk 

Website – https://www.nereo.gov.uk/regional-networks/ 

Next Meetings –  Officer meeting – all meeting times proposed 10am to 11.30am, Teams meetings: Thursday 7 March 2024.

Joint Member/Officer meeting – all meeting times proposed 10am to 11.30am, Thursday 21 March 2024.

London

Chair of the Network – Cllr Ian Wingfield, Ian.Wingfield@SOUTHWARK.GOV.UK

Lead Officer – Everton Roberts, Everton.Roberts@SOUTHWARK.GOV.UK

Website – N/A

Next Meetings – TBC. For more information on how to join the meetings, contact Everton.

Blogs

You can read the latest blogs from members of the Regional Networks below, these are updated regularly. If you would like to submit a blog to be featured on our website, please contact megan.ingle@cfgs.org.uk

• BLOG: Look After Yourselves People, by Helen Mitchell – Interim Manager/Consultant in policy at Oxfordshire County Council – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)
• BLOG: Improving Scrutiny: working with our Members- by the Scrutiny Team at Essex County Council – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)
• BLOG: One Coventry Response to Supporting Our Communities with the Cost of Living Crisis – Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)
• BLOG: Improving Scrutiny: From the perspective of a new Democratic Services Officer by Charlotte Cameron, Democratic Services Officer, Peterborough City Council – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk) 
• BLOG- Devon County Council – Children’s Scrutiny and Ofsted – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

• CASE STUDY: South-West Regional Scrutiny Network: Case Study (March 2023) sent by Howard Bassett – Exeter Council – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

• CASE STUDY: Somerset West and Taunton Council, sent by Marcus Prouse (Specialist – Governance and Democratic) – Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (cfgs.org.uk)

Case Studies

Below are some examples of best practice that have been submitted by members of the Regional Networks. We at CfGS are able to make infographics of these examples, if you have an example of excellent practice, contact megan.ingle@cfgs.org.uk for more details.