[Peter Foulsham]

Jaine

Sounds like we're at roughly the same stage here In Wyre. We are in the process of making revisions to our three-committee structure and various models have been proposed. Although we are not really near the point at which a decison will be made, I'd be happy to put 10p on the single committee structure , if I were a betting man (no more than that, though). Like our members, it seems, I believe that there is no ideal arrangement, but this model seems to offer the least difficulties and the greatest clarity. That said, we've not tried it, nor have we made any decisions, so this is pure speculation at this stage. I guess it is equally likely we'll go with something else and I'll be 10p out of pocket. As many have said before me, it's whatever works for you, but I'll keep my eyes on this discussion in the hope of finding the definitive answer.

Peter

[Steve Sienkiewicz]

There is a thread titled 'the future of scrutiny' towards the bottom of page 2 of this forum which discusses these issues. It perhaps should be re-titled 'the Camden model' in recognition..................................

[Adriana Stapleton]

St Edmundsbury changed to this model this year. Well, we still have a Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee which does all the monitoring of budgets, KPIs, complaints etc, but we now only have one Overview and Scrutiny Committee which will work in task and finish groups to carry out all reviews and policy work.

This is a link to the report which led to the restructure, if it helps:

http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/liv...ucture.pdf

Adriana

[Bambi Benson]

Hi Jaine

We changed to a new structure last year - an overarching OSC, a Scrutiny Planning Group, 3 Standing Panels (Crime, Health and Culture) and Task & Finish Groups set up as required. This was after some research on alternative models and a visit to Canterbury to consider their structure which was subsequently tweaked to allow for local preference.

The first year's operation is currently being evaluated, but overall the feedback has been very positive. The planning group is considered efficient, responsive (meeting monthly following Executive) and flexible, allowing effective work planning for the main committee which is operating more effectively as a result with tighter, more focused agendas.

A scrutiny structure flow diagram is available - www.chichester.gov.uk/utilities/action/act_download.cfm

Bambi

[Sue Morgan]

Hello Jaine

Suffolk County Council has since January 2011 been running with a single Scrutiny Committee - we are about to embark on a review which will be reported back to Council in May. The report to propose Constitutional change is Agenda Item 10 on County Council on 2 December 2010 - if you can't access the link, let me know committeeminutes.suffolkcc.gov.uk/searchResult.aspx

It has been a challenge to work to such a radically different structure, but it is supported by highly committed and enthusiastic councillors. We have also worked hard to get local councillors to take up issues of concern directly with officers rather than using formal scrutiny arrangements to tackle local issues.

Sue Morgan