There are a number of ways in which the public can get involved in the scrutiny process:
- Respond to consultation or questionnaires
When carrying out reviews, the committees often invite members of the public to attend focus groups or special meetings of the committees, or complete questionnaires as part of their consultation. You will find these invitations or questionnaires on our website, in the local press and in the council’s own magazine Community Spirit.
- Attend meetings or ask a question
All scrutiny meetings are open to the public (unless confidential matters are to be discussed) and dates are available on our website, or by calling the council. A member of the public may submit a question to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee about council services, policies, performance or any matter related to the council. On receiving such a scrutiny question the Scrutiny Manager will judge whether it should be dealt with under the scrutiny process (at the next appropriate meeting) or referred to the relevant service to deal with.
Scrutiny committees and their review panels can invite people from inside and outside the council to meet them, or their delegates, to answer questions and give expert opinions. Scrutiny committees may also invite advisers from outside the council to make submissions to them or to attend meetings. If you are involved in a local issue which a scrutiny committee is investigating, you may be asked to come and speak to the committee as a witness.
How members of the community can suggest a scrutiny review
Local residents, voluntary groups and businesses in the borough may suggest that the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee review a subject or matter of concern in the borough. It need not relate purely to services provided by St Edmundsbury Borough Council and could cover any aspect of public service provided for St Edmundsbury residents or businesses. This will then be added to the list of potential scrutiny reviews for the committees’ next work programmes, and ranked alongside other potential reviews at work programme setting time in April each year. If your suggestion makes it to the final work programme, you may be invited to come and speak to the committee, but it is your choice whether or not you take up the invitation.
To suggest a local issue for scrutiny click on the relevant link on the Overview and Scrutiny page.
