Scrutiny in Calderdale
Scrutiny reviews
From time to time each Scrutiny Panel may decide that it wishes to look at a certain topic in greater detail.
These detailed reviews may be undertaken by all members of the scrutiny panel, or the Panel may choose to appoint a smaller number of members to meet and then report back to the main panel.
Occasionally when a subject is cross cutting, joint reviews including members from more than one Scrutiny Panel have been undertaken. A good example is the Obesity Review that was undertaken jointly by the Adults, Health and Social Care and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panels.
Detailed reviews allow Members the flexibility to undertake more in-depth research and information gathering into a topic, normally over several meetings and, as always, we take evidence from a variety of sources.
The Scrutiny Panel usually prepares a report setting out the recommendations arising from the review. This may be presented to the Council, the Council's Cabinet or external bodies for them to consider whether they wish to implement the scrutiny recommendations.
Completed Scrutiny Reviews
Review - Cabinet’s Draft Budget Proposals 2012/13
The five Scrutiny Panels undertook detailed scrutiny of Calderdale’s Cabinet’s draft budget proposals for 2012/13 at meetings held during the first two weeks in February, 2012.
This was a major piece of review work, with the cross-party Panels scrutinising in detail and providing a commentary to the Cabinet on its budget proposals for 2012/13, both on suggested areas of growth and on those services where savings were proposed.
All the Scrutiny Panel Chairs had prepared a number of advance questions they wished to raise on the proposals, seeking clarity, confirmation or further information from the Cabinet Members on their proposals. These questions were sent to Cabinet Members and Chief Officers in advance of the meetings to enable them to prepare a response for the Scrutiny Panels.
The report below contains a summary of the matters discussed and commentary raised by each Scrutiny Panel on the budget proposals. The report was considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 13 February, 2012, prior to Cabinet agreeing final budget proposals for submission to the Budget Council meeting to be held on 27 February, 2012.
Budget Proposals Review [PDF file 201KB]|
February 2012 – report of the Head of Democratic and Partnership Services.
Young People’s Service
This detailed review involved four Councillors and a Co-opted Member from the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel examining the work of the Young People’s Service for Calderdale with the primary purposes to (a) help the Council set priorities for the Young People’s Service; and (b) ensure that the budget savings for 2011/12 and 2012/13 are to be achieved.
The Review group met on six occasions and undertook a number of site visits, some individually, some collectively, to view Young People’s Service buildings and facilities. They met with service users, along with Young People’s Service staff and management at several locations in Calderdale, including at the Mixenden Activity Centre, Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, Raven Street Youth and Community Centre, Youth Works and Luddenden Youth centre.
This report details the research and evidence gathering undertaken throughout this detailed scrutiny review, including a summary of its findings and outlines recommendations in this matter.
Young People's Service Scrutiny Review [PDF file 803KB]| November 2011 – report of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
Academies Scrutiny Review
The primary purpose of this detailed review was to support the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel by ensuring Councillors and co-opted members were fully informed of the implications of the Academies Bill (subsequently Act).
The remit of the review sought to ensure the highest quality of education possible for students of Calderdale schools; to make sure that good two way dialogue took place between the Children and Young People Directorate and all schools on the issue of Academies; to make sure up-to-date and accurate information was made available to all schools and others who were involved in decisions about Academy status; to examine any issues concerning the quality of support services provided by schools to the Council and information received by the Review Group from key stakeholders.
The Review involved three Councillors and two Co-opted Members from the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel, along with a primary head teacher; secondary head teacher and a representative from the Schools Forum.
This report details the research and evidence gathering undertaken throughout this detailed scrutiny review, including a summary of its findings and outlines recommendations in this matter.
Academies Scrutiny Review [PDF file 226KB]| November 2011 – report of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
Review of the May 2010 Elections
The Use of Resources Scrutiny Panel held a detailed review on the Elections held in Calderdale on 6 May, 2010
Problems arose at the elections in a number of different parts of the country. In particular a number of people were not able to vote because of queues at polling stations at 10.00pm as the polls closed. Although we did not experience those problems in Calderdale, the Panel wanted to make sure that everything was in place to minimise the likelihood of such events taking place here in the future.
The Panel felt it important the review of Elections was conducted in public. Elections are the most direct way of the people holding government – national or local – to account and it is important that they have the opportunity to observe and contribute to that report. The three political groupings on the Council came and gave their views to the Scrutiny Panel and that the meeting was attended by other members of the public and press.
As a result of the Review, the Panel was satisfied that the elections had been administered efficiently, effectively and fairly.
Review of the May 2010 Elections [PDF file 205KB]| December, 2010 – final report of the Use of Resources Scrutiny Panel.
Care Homes for Older People
The review involved all members from the Adults Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel examining the quality of Care Homes for Older People in the Borough, with a particular focus on the poorer care homes.
The Working Party met on seven occasions and held discussions with various individuals, professional bodies and Care Home owners/managers to ascertain their views. In addition, the Working Party commissioned two “lay” people to undertake site visits to some Care Homes on their behalf and provide an independent report back on their findings.
This report details the research and evidence gathering undertaken by the Working Party throughout this detailed scrutiny review, including a summary of its findings and outlines recommendations in this matter.
Care Homes Review for Older People [PDF file 339KB]| January 2011 – report of the Adults, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel.
Fly tipping
The Fly Tipping Working Party investigated the extent of this unpleasant and illegal activity.
Members questioned witnesses from the Environment Agency’s environmental crimes division, Pennine Housing 2000 as well as officers from Calderdale's Waste Management and Environmental Health departments.
Discussions focussed on, amongst other areas, fly tipping 'hot spots', the type of materials being dumped and possible solutions to the problem.
Overcoming the Blight of Fly Tipping [PDF file 1107KB]| May, 2009 – report of the Adults, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel.
Obesity
A major scrutiny review of obesity in Calderdale. The review involved members from the (Adults) Health and Social Care; Children and Young People and (former) Regeneration and Development Scrutiny Panels.
This topic was an extremely complex issue, and Members heard from a wide range of witnesses to get a clear understanding of all the factors involved, including:
- officers from across all Council Directorates;
- officers from NHS Calderdale;
- representatives from Calderdale’s schools;
- representatives from regional bodies, and
- experts from Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Universities.
Obesity Scrutiny Review [PDF file 573KB]| May 2009 – joint report of the Adults, Health and Social Care and Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
Parking review
The parking review was a major piece of work undertaken by the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel.
Members looked at a host of issues, including availability and cost of town-centre parking, winter parking provision, enforcement, loading bays and taxi ranks and made 31 recommendations to Cabinet, including looking at a review of base budgets and income targets.
Parking Review [PDF file 1844KB]| July, 2009 – report of the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel
Post 16 Education Review
These interim (June, 2010) and final (September, 2011) reports presents the findings of a Working Party of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel which undertook a detailed scrutiny review on the topic of Post-16 Education. The primary role of the Working Party, was to support the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel by ensuring Councillors and co-opted members were fully informed of changes to learning opportunities and funding for 14-19 year olds (up to 25 year olds for children with learning difficulties and disabilities) and the implication of those changes for Calderdale.
Post 16 Education Scrutiny Review [PDF file 459KB]| June, 2010 – report of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
Post 16 Education Review - final report [PDF file 462KB]| September, 2011 – final report of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
Supporting Vulnerable Young People
A report of a Working Party of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel looked specifically at the work of the Gay and Lesbian Youth in Calderdale (GALYIC); the work of the Safer Schools Partnerships in Calderdale; and plans for the next six-twelve months regarding arrangements for responding to children who experience bullying.
As part of their research and evidence gathering in this matter, the Working Party met and received the views of some of the Gay and Lesbian Youth in Calderdale, along with the Council’s Anti-Bullying Co-Ordinator and a Chief Inspector of Police.
Supporting Vulnerable Young people Review [PDF file 144KB]| November, 2009 - report of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.
The future of the Ridings School Site
The Ridings School was formed in the 1990's following the amalgamation of two schools, Holmfield High School and Ovenden High School, on a school site dating back to 1937. The school struggled following the merger, went into special measures a number of times and was the subject of much negative media attention, finally closing as a school in July 2009.
Cabinet asked the (former) Regeneration and Development Scrutiny Panel (now Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel) to consider options for the future use of the former Ridings School and prepare fully costed proposals for recommendation to Cabinet by the end of March 2010.
The Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel took evidence from a variety of sources during the course of this scrutiny review and published its report on the Future of the Ridings School Site in March, 2010
The Future of Ridings School Site [PDF file 7942KB]| March, 2010 – report of the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel.
Winter Service Review
The winter of 2008-09 was one of the worst in recent memory, and of course, 2009-10 was even worse still!
Scrutiny had already conducted a review of winter services and made recommendations about gritting patterns, storage, grit bins etc. In view of the severe weather, Councillors decided to revisit this piece of work to see if suggestions had been implemented successfully, and if anything more could be done.
One of the many things that became clear in undertaking this review was that Calderdale has to work as part of a bigger team in these unusual times. Indeed, it was found that Officers were demonstrating that they were developing co-operative and fruitful relationships with other authorities to ensure that the maximum resources were available to keep things moving.
Winter Service Review [PDF file 1562KB]| October, 2009 - report of the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel.
Workforce Planning
Most of the money that the Council spends goes on paying staff to provide services throughout Calderdale and it is important to make sure that the Council is employing the right people with the necessary skills to provide those vital services.
The Scrutiny Panel was able to step outside management-staff relationships and negotiations with trade unions to take an independent look at staff issues.
The review took a close look at how the Council undertook performance appraisals and found that not enough staff were benefiting from a regular appraisal. The recommendations produced arising from the Scrutiny review have already led to improvements.
The review also found that some Council departments had more staff training provision than others and Council managers have been asked to address this issue.
Workforce Planning Review [PDF file 180KB]| April, 2010 – Report of the Use of Resources Scrutiny Panel
