The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee met on Monday 30 June 2025 to finalise the scrutiny review topics for the upcoming year. The committee recommended amendments to the proposed work programme, substituting several review topics to ensure greater focus and avoid duplication.

Scrutiny Review Topic Selection 2025/26

The committee considered a report outlining proposed scrutiny review topics for the 2025/26 work programme, which had been put forward by various scrutiny committees. The aim was to make recommendations to the full Council meeting regarding the scrutiny work programme.

Several proposed topics were discussed and amended. The Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee's proposed review of 'Access to Transport' was replaced with a focus on 'The Council's Enforcement of matters related to Parking and Fly-tipping'. This change was made to avoid potential duplication with work being undertaken by Transport for Greater Manchester and to allow for a more direct examination of local enforcement issues.

The Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee's proposed review of 'The Greater Manchester Pension Fund - Current and proposed governance procedures' was also amended. It was noted that a motion on the Greater Manchester Pension Fund was already scheduled for consideration by the Council Meeting on 10 July 2025, and that national restrictions could limit the impact of such a review. Consequently, the committee recommended this topic be replaced with a review of 'The Effectiveness and Value for Money of the Council's External Communications'.

Similarly, the Housing, Economy & Environment Scrutiny Committee's proposed review of the 'Operation of CAN Seed Fund and CAN Catalyst Fund' was substituted. While acknowledged as an important area, it was suggested that this could be addressed through inclusion on a future committee agenda rather than a full scrutiny review. The recommended replacement topic is 'The Allocation and use of Section 106 Monies'.¹

The committee resolved to recommend these amended scrutiny review topics to the Council Meeting for approval.