What does the Brighton and Hove City Council scrutiny team do?

Scrutiny exists to challenge decision-makers within the city.

It is council service, set up to examine the decisions it makes and the issues that affect the whole of Brighton and Hove.

For example, we have recently scrutinised the council’s Gypsy and Traveller Strategy, looked at the costs and benefits of 20mph zones, the potential for renewable energy in the city, services for adults with autistic spectrum conditions and the impact of students on Brighton & Hove.

We are led by councillors from across the spectrum and consider issues in a non party-political way, hearing evidence from witnesses as a parliamentary select committee would. We regularly use national experts to inform our work and seek out innovation and good practice from around the country.

After reviewing an issue we produce a report and recommendations for a way forward. We don’t take decisions, but over 90 per cent of our recommendations are accepted.

Although scrutiny has powers with regard to council, NHS and other public services, we’re more interested in looking at issues that affect the city as a whole.

We investigate when things seem to go wrong, for example, after the severe snow storms of 2010/11 we produced this report. But we also want to look forward, developing policy and proactively challenging the status quo. 

We’re always happy to take suggestions for important issues to review. Our procedures ensure that resources are put to best use – prioritising some issues over others.

We are just starting a review into the city’s retail sector, how it’s coping with the current economic climate and what the council - or others - could be doing to support it more. We’d like your ideas for this piece of work.

More information can be found on our web pages athttp://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1187479or why not follow us on twitter @BHScrutiny? Alternatively, email us at scrutiny@brighton-hove.gov.uk with your ideas.

Tom Hook
Head of Scrutiny
Brighton and Hove City Council


Blog edited by Caroline White (www.whitewrite.co.uk)

 

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk