Overview & scrutiny

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee aims to improve services by influencing policies and service delivery. It sets its own work programme, which reflects the Council's priorities and links to its aims and objectives.

Getting involved

The District Council is keen to hear from residents of the Derbyshire Dales.

You can become involved in the Overview and Scrutiny process by:-

• Suggesting a topic for review
• Contributing to a review either as an individual or part of a group
• Responding to a questionnaire or providing information for a review
• Attending a meeting
• Taking part in Pubic Participation

How does the Committee work

The majority of the Committee's work is to carry out reviews of services or areas of activity affecting Dales residents and visitors. The outcome should be to shape and influence a Council policy or procedure, investigate how a particular service or function can be improved upon and / or identify efficiency savings.

Integral to the Committee's work programme is scrutiny of the Council's budget and a duty to look at crime and disorder matters at least once a year.

The other work area of the Committee is to monitor decisions made by the policy committee and 'call-in' ones that require re-consideration prior to their implementation. The Committee may also be asked to consider petitions submitted to the Council.

As well as championing District Council services, Overview and Scrutiny may also look at the work of any other organisations whose activities affect Derbyshire Dales residents; this may include for example the police and fire service.

During their reviews, the Committee gathers information from a variety of sources including local interest groups, residents, other authorities, public bodies, contractors and experts in the subject matter.

Some of the Committee's work takes place in the committee meetings, but much takes place elsewhere in the form of informal chats, inquiry teams, working groups, observation, site visits, surveys & questionnaires as well as making use of existing internal and external data.

Experts and those with a particular interest in the subject matter can also be invited to contribute to the reviews and may even be co-opted on to the Committee for a time limited period.

The Committee welcomes public involvement. Details of current and previous reviews are on the District Council's website and regular press releases are issued.

In-depth research and knowledge of the review subject matter enables informed recommendations to be made. Councillors also have an opportunity to have an input into decisions at an early stage and influence policies and practices before they are implemented.

The Committee's review findings and recommendations are presented in a report, sometimes accompanied by an action plan, to a policy committee or Council. If accepted, the recommendations will be implemented and their progress monitored by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then reviewed after a year or so.

Councillors

Contact us

Overview and Community Engagement Officer
Town Hall
Bank Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NN

Tel: 01629 761 302
Email: overview@derbyshiredales.gov.uk