The North Northamptonshire Council's Scrutiny Management Board meeting on 11 September 2025 was adjourned due to a lack of quorum. The meeting was unable to conduct any business, but the agenda included discussion and potential approval of the Scrutiny Executive Protocol 2025, the Scrutiny Development Plan 2025, and the Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26

The Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26 was presented for consideration and potential approval. The programme is developed with the four Scrutiny Committees to guide their work throughout the year.

Key points of the programme included:

• Development: The work programme had been developed over the previous two months through engagement between Scrutiny Officers, directorates, and partner agencies.
• Member Consultation: A consultation exercise of all council members to identify further items for scrutiny was proposed in June, with a review and prioritisation workshop planned with both Scrutiny and Executive members.
• Chairs and Vice Chairs Review: Following the initial cycle of Scrutiny Committees, a meeting of all Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs recommended against proceeding with the member consultation due to the already substantial volume of items in the work programme.
• Recommendation: The board was asked to agree with the recommendation of the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs to halt the formal consultation but to advise all members that they could nominate items for scrutiny at any time.

The Executive Forward Plan was also up for review, to identify items for potential pre-scrutiny.

The appendix A - Corporate WP listed the planned scrutiny for the Corporate Committee, including quarterly budget forecast updates, capital and revenue forecast outturns, and key performance indicators. It also included scrutiny of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report, residents survey outcomes, and the Corporate Plan.

The appendix A - Health WP listed the planned scrutiny for the Health Committee, including meetings with the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board¹ (ICB), Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust² (NHFT), and Kettering General Hospital³. It also included scrutiny of the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB) Annual Report, and various performance and quality reports from healthcare providers.

The appendix A - Place WP listed the planned scrutiny for the Place Committee, including the Cultural Masterplan, waste collection policies, the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, the Keyways Housing Allocation Scheme, the Carbon Management Plan Annual Review, and the Zero-Emission Bus Scheme.

The appendix A - CYPE WP listed the planned scrutiny for the Childrens Committee, including the Special Education Needs Strategy, Family Hubs, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Attendance/Alternative Provision, Education Attainment, Inclusion, the Virtual School, the Care Experience Pledge, the Care Leavers Housing Pathway, Care Leavers in Education, Employment and Training, Pupil Place Planning, and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Allocation.

Scrutiny Development Plan 2025

The Scrutiny Development Plan 2025 and its September update were submitted for consideration and approval. The plan outlines actions intended to enhance and promote the operation of scrutiny in 2025-26, building on the principles of transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

The plan includes 10 key actions for delivery:

1. Operationalising a Children's Scrutiny Committee.
2. Running a scrutiny induction training programme for new scrutiny councillors.
3. Running scrutiny training for executive members.
4. Running scrutiny training for officers.
5. Developing a Scrutiny / Executive Protocol.
6. Reviewing the Scrutiny Procedure Rules.
7. Developing a Scrutiny Practice Manual.
8. Creating a Scrutiny portal on the Members Intranet.
9. Enhancing the scrutiny presence on the Council's website.
10. Encouraging public participation in Scrutiny.

According to the appendix A - SDP, two actions were presented for approval as fully completed: the introduction of a Children's Scrutiny Committee and the delivery of the Scrutiny Induction Training Programme. Three actions were on track for completion by the end of September: agreement of the Scrutiny – Executive Protocol, the Scrutiny presence on the Members' Intranet, and the Scrutiny presence on the Council's website. The remaining five items were on track for delivery in line with their target date.

Scrutiny - Executive Protocol 2025

The Scrutiny - Executive Protocol 2025 was presented for consideration and approval. The protocol aims to provide a clear framework for constructive engagement between the Scrutiny and Executive functions, built on the principles of transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

The appendix A - Scrutiny - Executive Protocol 2025 states that the protocol has four ambitions:

1. To enable Executive Councillors, Scrutiny Councillors, and officers to understand better their powers, roles and responsibilities in relation to the scrutiny function and to maximise the effectiveness of the Council's decision-making structure.
2. Promote a culture of mutual respect, trust and courtesy between Executive and Scrutiny councillors to ensure open and constructive debate with a focus on evidence and outcomes.
3. Support focused, transparent and timely scrutiny of Council business to enable Scrutiny Committees to influence Council decision making.
4. To lead, support and enable the training and development of Scrutiny councillors, with the intention that all involved can make the best possible contribution.

The protocol outlines the roles and responsibilities of both Executive and Scrutiny councillors, emphasizing the need for a constructive working relationship. It also sets out principles for collaborative work, including communication, trust, respect, and managing disagreements constructively.