Topic: Subject-specific scrutiny best practice
Over the years CfGS has been the source of a significant amount of practical guidance for councils in how their scrutiny functions can understand, address and make recommendations on specific policy issues. Ranging from the cost of living crisis to cybersecurity, this best practice guidance (and a number of associated case studies) provides advice on a broad range of common topics.
Council action on the climate emergency
We’ve produced material on the climate emergency before – we published a blog on how scrutiny could approach the issue in 2019, and in July last year we published a longer guide setting out 10 questions to ask if you’re scrutinising your council’s action on the issue. With COP26 drawing to a close in Glasgow […]
Scrutiny Frontiers 2020/21: experiences from the frontline
Frontline scrutiny stories in the light of the pandemic.
Annual Survey of Overview and Scrutiny – Results Report 2020-21
Results from the 2020-21 annual overview and scrutiny survey.
Using scrutiny to tackle gambling harms
A collection of case studies from local authorities, on approaches to tackling gambling harms through scrutiny.
Possible legislative provisions on scrutiny in the health Bill
CfGS has produced a draft of possible provisions, either for the Health and Care Bill or subsequent Regulations, to support the continued operation of health scrutiny. These provisions aim to simplify existing Regulations by providing a strong and independent role for scrutiny which sits within the policy objectives set out in the White Paper. These […]
Revised guidance: Overview and Scrutiny in Combined Authorities
This is our second edition of the guide to overview and scrutiny in Combined Authorities (CAs). When the first edition of this guide was published, CAs – and the overview and scrutiny systems designed to form a part of their governance framework – were yet to be tested in practice. This new edition has provided […]
Reflections on the publication of the Ockenden report
The final report of the review carried out by Donna Ockenden into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) has just been published. It can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ockenden-review-of-maternity-services-at-shrewsbury-and-telford-hospital-nhs-trust. The report makes for grim reading. There are implications here for maternity services across England – and for health and care services more […]
Scrutiny, counter-extremism and the Prevent duty
With the LGA, we have produced guidance for councils on ways that scrutiny can effectively contribute to local policy on counter-extremism. It provides background on some of the key policy issues, and suggests four ways that scrutiny can assist: 1. Supporting and challenging the assessment of risk 2. Scrutinising Prevent and counter-extremism local action plans […]
Improving the scrutiny of integrated care systems and sustainability and transformation partnerships
This practical guide has been produced in partnership with the NHS Confederation. It is based on discussions with around 70 local government health and care scrutiny chairs, members and officers at the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny Health Conference in London on 18 July 2019. The guidance is designed for scrutiny leads and communications and […]