[Debbie Dawson]

In the process of reviewing our O&S Handbook I've come across the following paragraph:

"Often it is helpful to draw on expertise from outside of the council to help provide evidence and advice in the course of a scrutiny review. This may include representatives from partner agencies, experts in a particular field, representatives from other local authorities, and members of the local community with experience of a particular issue. Overview and scrutiny bodies do not have the power to compel such individuals to attend, but they can bring enormous value if they are willing to be involved. The exception to this is the Crime and Disorder Committee, which has the power to require responsible and cooperating authorities to attend."

We are a District Council, and so my question is whether the statement about us not having the power to compel partner agencies to attend meetings remains true? I understand that under the Localism Act we now have the same powers as top-tier authorities to "look at the work of partners", and that this now encompasses any activities carried out by partners named in s104 of the LG&PIH Act, but has anything changed in terms of our actual powers to require partners to attend or to cooperate with scrutiny exercises?

I know there's a briefing due any time now from CfPS which may answer this question, but thought I'd post my question here in case the answer is of interest to others.

Many thanks

Debbie Dawson
Rugby BC

[Ed Hammond]

Hi Debbie, you can't "compel" partners to attend but you do, like other councils, have the right to request information and request attendance. The expectation is that partners will provide information, and attend, but it's true that there's no legislative backstop for you to rely on.

The focus will have to lie on building relationships with those partners to help you around these issues without having to turn your eye to the legislation to see if you can compel people to do things, or not do things. But I realise that this can be a challenge.

[Debbie Dawson]

Thanks very much for your help Ed. In practice, it sounds much the same as how we operate at the moment, I guess it just adds some weight to what we do.

Many thanks

Debbie