Reflections on Scrutiny as the Critical Friend: Processes and Practices

City and County of Swansea Council

20 April 2009

Tim Buckle Performance & Improvement Advisor

•To consider the role of scrutiny as a critical friend

•To reflect on current practices

Purpose of the Presentation

•Centre for Public Scrutiny – four principles of good scrutiny:

– “Provides ‘critical friend’ challenge to executive policy-makers and decision-makers”

– “Enables the voice and concerns of the public and its communities”

– “Is carried out by ‘independent minded governors’ who lead and own the scrutiny process”

– “Drives improvement in public services”*

* www.cfps.gov.uk

The Principles of Good Scrutiny

•5 main questions for Authorities to ask themselves:

– Does scrutiny provide an effective challenge to the executive?

– How does scrutiny have an impact on the work of the executive?

– How does scrutiny routinely challenge the authority’s corporate strategy and budget?

– Are external partners involved in o & s and how are they included?

– Does scrutiny work effectively with the executive and senior management?*

*www.cfps.org.uk

Centre for Public Scrutiny Self-Evaluation Framework – Critical Friend Challenge*

•Considered:

– The structure of scrutiny arrangements

– Arrangements for Scrutiny Support

– Options for generating enhanced challenge capacity through scrutiny to support service delivery improvements

– Processes, procedures and the effectiveness of scrutiny board meetings

– The process for developing scrutiny forward work programmes

WLGA Diagnostic Work

•The purpose of individual items / the role of the Scrutiny Board – would more clarification be helpful for some items?

•The number of agenda items for each Board meeting and how this is determined

•The process for determining which witnesses will be invited to attend Board meetings and the specific information the Boards require from witnesses/other sources

Work Programming – Issues to Consider

• Issues to Consider

–A more structured approach to considering items at Scrutiny Board Meetings?

–A more planned approach to developing questioning strategies?

–Development sessions for Scrutiny Chairs / Scrutiny Board Members?

Processes, Procedures and the Effectiveness of Scrutiny Board Meetings

•Introduction to the item from the Chair / Scrutiny Officer•Discussion on the purpose of the item, the key issues the Board will focus on and the key questions the Board would like answered to fulfil its role•Presentation of report/introduction from the ‘witness’ (e.g. Officer, Executive Member or External witness)•Question and answer session•‘Witness’ retires from the meeting table whilst Board discusses the evidence they have heard and agrees a way forward

A Possible Structure for Scrutiny Items

What is the role of the Board?

What information does the Board need to fulfil this role?

Who would the Board like to hear from in order to gather the information?

Which questions do you need to ask to get this

information?

How will the Board approach the ‘interview’?

Developing Questioning Strategies

•Would the following strengthen challenge capacity:

– Greater involvement of external witnesses in the scrutiny process (improve evidence base and range of perspective upon which to base conclusions / recommendations)?

– Sharing resources, knowledge and expertise with neighbouring authorities to work on joint scrutiny exercises?

– Greater involvement of co-opted members?

– Undertaking regular reviews of the operation of the scrutiny process?

Options for generating enhanced challenge capacity

“In my view, it is inconceivable that anyone who really understands what scrutiny is would ever ‘note’ a paper. That is strong evidence, where it occurs, that they have not got it quite right and they have not understood it.”*

Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales

* The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Transcript of Meeting, Wednesday, 19 November, 2008

A Closing Thought….

???

Questions………….

Reflections on Scrutiny as the Critical Friend: Processes and Practices

Tim BuckleTim.Buckle@wlga.gov.uk