The 2005 survey of overview and scrutiny in local government
The 2005 survey of overview and scrutiny in local government
Our third annual survey of local authority overview and scrutiny has been undertaken in partnership with the the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The survey is used to benchmark organisational structures and support, and present findings on the nature and impact of scrutiny work as well as perceptions of its value and success.
The response rate, at 40 per cent, is down from last year owing to returns from authorities at the district level. We have, however, had an increase in responses from County Councils, and Metropolitan Borough Councils.
It is now interesting to note developing trends. The most significant are the steady increase in resourcing and support for scrutiny reflecting the greater awareness and recognition of the value and potential of the function. It is also noticeable that common structures and processes are emerging. Perceptions of the impact of scrutiny have remained consistently high and many respondents this year gave us examples of changes in service delivery resulting from scrutiny work.