Resources

A practical guide for councillors and scrutiny officers that sets out ten key questions, with national context and a jargon buster, to help scrutiny test how well their council is responding to housing need, homelessness and rising temporary accommodation costs, and, for stock-owning councils, housing quality and tenant satisfaction.

This guide helps councillors and scrutiny officers test how well their council is preparing for the effects of climate change, from flooding and extreme heat to the resilience of council services, housing and emergency planning. Explore ten key questions, with context and a jargon buster, to help scrutiny focus on whether the council understands its local risks and is acting on them.

Adult social care is one of the biggest risks a council carries. This guide helps scrutiny members test what matters most, from safeguarding and waiting lists to the care market, workforce and unpaid carers.

Ten essential questions, with follow-up prompts and a jargon buster, to help scrutiny councillors and officers test their council’s finances and shape the budget before it’s finalised.

When Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner set out to untangle governance across three unitary councils, policing, fire and health partners, the result was a new Safer Beds Strategic Partnership Board – and a blueprint other areas can learn from as reform takes shape.

This guide covers the ethical standards expected of councillors, including the Nolan Principles, declaring interests, gifts and hospitality, proper use of council resources, common pitfalls, and where to seek advice when unsure.

Facing a financial emergency, an LGA peer challenge, and five councils' worth of scrutiny culture to merge into one, Somerset streamlined its committees and reframed scrutiny as an enabling partner in good governance.

When Tower Hamlets came to us with a council culture in real trouble, we didn't hand them a policy – we got every political group in a room together and helped them write their own Members' Pledge, signed by every single councillor.

Discover how, one year on, Teignbridge District Council has turned recommendations into lasting improvements in scrutiny, governance and organisational culture.

How do you make scrutiny more than just a process? This case study explores how a council took a fresh look at its governance arrangements, creating the conditions for better conversations, stronger challenge, and more effective decision-making. It offers practical insights into building a culture where scrutiny supports improvement and helps elected members make a real difference.

This briefing paper explores how locally rooted citizens’ assemblies and other deliberative democratic approaches can strengthen neighbourhood governance by involving residents directly in informed, participatory decision-making.

This is a story of how strong, trust-based relationships between members and officers, built through openness, respect and a shared commitment to place, can bring governance and scrutiny to life.

This explainer offers a clear, concise overview of key amendments to the English Devolution Bill, highlighting what they mean for local governance and decision-making. It outlines the practical implications of the changes and why they matter for councils, leaders, and communities across England.

Read what happened at Woking Borough Council from a Scrutiny and Democratic Services officer perspective, as they reflect on tackling financial pressures and improving scrutiny to support better decision-making.

Joint scrutiny is about working together to look at shared issues, especially where services cut across boundaries. It’s essentially about making collaboration practical with clear roles, shared goals, and good relationships. Read more on how scrutiny adds value rather than becoming confused or duplicated.

This guide explains how scrutiny works in councils where no party is in control, focusing on working across political lines to challenge and improve decisions. The core idea is simple: when power is shared, scrutiny matters more and works best when it’s practical, constructive, and not overly political.

This short guide explains how an Executive–Scrutiny Protocol helps decision-makers and those holding them to account work together more effectively, making council processes clearer, fairer, and more transparent.

Rochdale Borough Council’s approach highlights how devolving decision-making can strengthen accountability and empower councillors to respond directly to community needs. This model demonstrates the value of place-based governance in improving engagement and delivering more responsive local services.