The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee met on Monday 22 September 2025 to approve the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25 for submission to the Council meeting. The committee also resolved to recommend that the Cabinet adhere to the constitution's eight-week timeframe for responding to scrutiny reviews.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25

The committee considered and approved the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25, which details the work undertaken by the council's scrutiny committees during the previous municipal year. The report highlights an increase in the intensity of scrutiny work, with longer meetings and more extensive agendas. Councillor Wendy Wild, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee, described the report as a very helpful report that really reflects a lot of the work that was taking place over the year. Councillor Claire Vibert, Vice-Chair of the committee, agreed, stating it was really helpful to have the work of the Scrutiny Committees brought together in this way so that councillors and the public can see the work that the Scrutiny Committees do over the course of the year and the contribution that they make to the running of the Council and to the decision-making process.

A key point of discussion was the timeliness of Cabinet responses to scrutiny reviews. Damian Eaton, from Democratic Services, confirmed that while there is a constitutional requirement for Cabinet to respond within eight weeks of receiving recommendations, none had been received yet. However, he noted that responses for several committees were scheduled to be presented at the next Cabinet meeting, with the Children and Families review due in December. Councillor Vibert expressed concern that these responses were falling outside the stipulated timeframe and proposed a resolution.

The committee resolved to approve the annual report for submission to the Council meeting, with Councillor Vibert agreeing to draft a foreword. Councillors Vibert and Colin Foster, Vice-Chair of the Children & Families Scrutiny Committee, were nominated to move and second the report at the Council meeting.

Cabinet Response Times

The committee passed a resolution recommending that the Cabinet comply with their duty under Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.3(b) of the Constitution to provide formal responses to scrutiny reviews within the eight-week period specified. This aims to ensure that the work of scrutiny reviews is properly taken into account by the Cabinet.