Committees

Overview and scrutiny in local government

Inquiry

These committees were created by the Local Government Act 2000 to balance the increased powers of Leaders and Cabinets, but their performance has varied across councils.

We have found that the most significant factor in determining whether or not scrutiny committees are effective is the organisational culture of a particular council. Having a positive culture where it is universally recognised that scrutiny can play a productive part in the decision-making process is vital and such an approach is common in all of the examples of effective scrutiny that we identified.

Evidence received in the last Parliament.

Work news

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Local authority culture change needed to ensure effective scrutiny
Communities and Local Government Committee report on local authority overview and scrutiny committees
15 December 2017
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Minister questioned on local authority overview and scrutiny
Communities and Local Government Committee hears from Marcus Jones MP, Minister for Local Government
6 November 2017
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Councillors questioned on local authority overview and scrutiny
Communities and Local Government Committee examines the effectiveness of local authority overview and scrutiny committees
30 October 2017
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Effectiveness of local authority examined
Communities and Local Government Committee questions experts on local authority effectiveness
16 October 2017
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Local authority scrutiny: inquiry continued
The Communities and Local Government Committee decide to continue their inquiry on local authority scrutiny
15 September 2017
Total results 5 (page 1 of 1)

Contact us

  • Email: hclgcom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 1975 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 7556 (media inquiries)
  • Address: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA