This workbook has been designed as a learning aid for elected councillors. It makes no judgement about whether you have been a councillor for some time, or whether you have been elected more recently. If you fall into the former category the workbook should serve as a useful reminder of some of the key skills, approaches and tactics that make for an effective ward councillor it may even challenge you to reconsider how you have approached aspects of the role to date.

Whether or not you are directly involved in the scrutiny function, it is important that you understand how scrutiny works and the benefits that it can bring. This workbook will:

• explain what scrutiny is and how it works in practice.
• describe the scrutiny review process.
• look at who is involved in scrutiny.
• give an overview of useful skills for carrying out scrutiny.

Powers of scrutiny

The principal power of a scrutiny committee is to influence the policies and decisions made by the council and other organisations involved in delivering public services. The scrutiny committee gathers evidence on issues affecting local people and makes recommendations based on its findings.

Scrutiny can investigate any issue which affects the local area or the area’s inhabitants. However, effective scrutiny work relies on scrutiny’s ‘soft’ influencing power, as it has no formal power to compel anyone to make changes. For this reason, before undertaking any scrutiny work it is important to think about not only scrutiny’s legal powers but also about how to build a positive working relationship with those who are the subject of scrutiny’s recommendations. This ensures a much higher chance of scrutiny’s recommendations being implemented.