Scrutiny Committee

Purpose   The purpose of the Scrutiny Committee is:   ·         To investigate, take evidence and consult upon issues within their remit.   ·         To carry out the Council’s responsibilities for scrutiny as stated in the Police and Justice Act 2006, the Health and Social Care Act 2006* as amended, the Local Government Act 2000 as amended, the Localism Act 2011 and the subsequent Local Authority (Committee System) (England) Regulations 2012.   *Where the Committee has concerns over the merit of proposals for substantial variations in health services or believes that the process of consultation on any such proposals has been inadequate, it has the power of referral to the Secretary of State.   Attendance   The Scrutiny Committee may require members of standing committees to attend their meetings as reasonably required.   Functions   The functions of the Scrutiny Committee are:   ·         To investigate major health issues identified by, or of concern to, the local population. ·         To consult, be consulted on and respond to substantial changes to local health service provision, including assessing the impact on the local community and health service users. ·         To scrutinise the impact of interventions on the health of local inhabitants, particularly socially excluded and other minority groups, with the aim of reducing health inequalities. ·         To maintain an overview of health service delivery against national and local targets, particularly those that improve the public’s health. ·         To receive and consider referrals from local Healthwatch on health matters.   The Health and Social Care Act 2001 (subsequently amended by the 2006, 2007 and 2012 Acts) first introduced a statutory power for councils to: “Review and scrutinise, in accordance with regulations, matters relating to the health service in the authority’s area and to make reports and recommendations on such matters in accordance with the regulations.”   In the context of Sutton, this means that the Council has the power to scrutinise, among others, the activities of the following:   ·         NHS Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group ·         Epsom and St Helier NHS University Trust ·         South West London and St George’s NHS Mental Health Trust ·         Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust   ·         To carry out the crime and disorder function contained in the Police and Justice Act 2006:  

o   to review or scrutinise decisions made or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by the responsible authorities of their crime and disorder functions; and

o   to make reports or recommendations to the local authority with respect to the discharge of those functions   This means that the Council has the power to scrutinise the activities of those responsible for crime and disorder strategies – which is the Council and the police, as embodied in the Safer Sutton Partnership.   ·         To review and scrutinise the exercise by risk management authorities of flood risk management functions which may affect the local authority’s area.

  ·         To carry out scrutiny reviews on behalf of Standing and Local Committees, the priorities for review to be agreed by the Scrutiny Committee following an annual meeting between the Scrutiny Committee, Standing and Local Committee Chairs and other key partners. Committees will also be able to refer matters for review and investigation to the Scrutiny Committee during the year, which will be considered as resources allow.   ·         To fulfil its role of holding other Committees to account through an agreed programme of Chairs’ Question and Answer sessions or such other mechanism as shall be determined by the Scrutiny Committee each year.