Scrutiny Review

In 2010/11 a total of 14 Scrutiny reviews have been carried out as follows:

Policy Review Scrutiny Committee Reviews

• The Gedling Transformation Programme
  Link to report and appendices

The working group monitored and the impact of the Council’s internal reorganisation program to ensure that our staff embraced the process and that we achieved the maximum possible improvement in service to the public.

• Gedling Housing and Council Tax benefit Policy
  Link to report and appendices

This group advised on the development of the new benefit policy, with the aim of increasing the take up of benefits by those people in most need of them.

• The Local Democracy and Construction bill – development of Policies

Members developed new policies and protocols for dealing with petitions from the public and a ‘Councillor Call for Action’ scheme.  

• Health Promotion Services in Gedling for the over 60s
  Link to report and appendices

This group asked over 600 older residents, key partner agencies and a range of voluntary groups across the Borough to give us their views and suggestions about the quality of Health Promotion Services in Gedling.

• Gedling Carbon Footprint
  Link to report and appendices

This review made practical suggestions to support the work that Gedling is doing to reduce its Carbon Footprint, especially in respect of Planning, Transport and travel and Utilities.

• The Gedling Partnership
  Link to report and appendices

An appraisal was made of the effectiveness of our partnership arrangements with other agencies in extending the reach of our joint services to those in most need of them.

• Gedling Borough Council use of Covert Surveillance
  Link to report and appendices

Members conducted an interim review of our use of covert surveillance powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in the light of forthcoming new Government legislation.

Performance Review Scrutiny Committee Reviews

• Gedling Borough Council Compliments and Complaints policy
  Link to report and appendices

The working group looked at our procedure for dealing with compliments and complaints from the public and made recommendations for making the process easier for customers to use, and more effective as a method of learning and improving as an organisation.

• Gedling Borough Council Covalent performance monitoring
  Link to report and appendices

This group examined our methods of monitoring performance and made suggestions for enhancing use of the system as a project management facility.

• Work programs in Gedling to address Domestic Violence
  Link to report and appendices

The working group considered the roles of Gedling Borough Council and the wider partnership of agencies in addressing Domestic Violence in the Borough in the light of funding reductions, and made recommendations for sustaining priority prevention and intervention services.

• Gedling Borough Council Planning Performance Review
  Link to report and appendices

The review picked up on developments in the work of the Planning department since an earlier review in 2007, and considered potential changes to the workload in the light of the ‘Local Growth’ White Paper.

Joint Committee reviews

• Effectiveness of the Scrutiny Function at Gedling Borough Council
  Link to report and appendices (14th March)
  Link to report and appendices (22nd March)

Members undertook a review and evaluation of changes made to the Overview and Scrutiny function one year previously - how far has Scrutiny at Gedling improved, and how should we go forward from here?  

• Gedling Borough Council use of External Funding
  Link to report and appendices (14th March)
  Link to report and appendices (22nd March)

The working group examined the ways in which the Council has drawn on external funding to support and extend services to the public, and examined the risks and opportunities presented by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

• Restructure of the National Health Service
  Link to report and appendices (14th March)
  Link to report and appendices (22nd March)

Members took the opportunity to engage early with representatives of the National Health Service to examine the impact of the current NHS restructure upon local residents and to examine the potential for joint work in the future