Overview and Scrutiny - Organisation
Constitution
The Bracknell Forest Constitution sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose. The Constitution is divided into 16 articles which set out the basic rules governing the Council’s business. More detailed procedures and codes of practice are provided in separate rules and protocols at the end of the document.
Part 1 of the Constitution sets out its Articles, the first of which commits the Council to provide clear leadership within the local community through involving others in a transparent and accountable process of effective decision-making which will support improvements in the delivery of services. Articles 2 to 16 explain the rights of citizens and how the key parts of the Council operate. Article 6 relates to overview and scrutiny and states that the Council will appoint an Overview and Scrutiny Commission to discharge the functions conferred by Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 and regulations made there under. The Article sets out the terms of reference of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Panels and describes their specific functions.
Part 4.5 of the Constitution contains the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules which details all aspects of the overview and scrutiny process.
Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Panels
There are currently one Overview and Scrutiny Commission and four Overview and Scrutiny Panels, these are:
- Adult Social Care and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Lifelong Learning and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Panel
- Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel
The Panels are appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission which manages and updates their work programme as necessary, including considering any request from a Panel, or any Member thereof, to add an item to the work programme. The remit of the first three Panels broadly reflects the service departments of the Council whilst the fourth Panel was established to carry out the statutory functions under Section 7 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 to review and scrutinise local health service matters. The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is concerned with Council-wide and corporate issues, including acting as the Council’s Audit Committee.
Joint East Berkshire Health Scrutiny Committee
Following the reconfiguration of the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in Berkshire to create the Berkshire East PCT which serves the Boroughs of Bracknell Forest, Windsor & Maidenhead and Slough, a Joint East Berkshire Health Scrutiny Committee involving members from all three Councils has been established to scrutinise health provision across East Berkshire. Health matters relating to Bracknell Forest only will remain in the remit of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
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