| Administrative History | The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee met from 14 Feb 2013 until its decommissioning 14 May 2014. It fulfilled the functions of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee as they relate to any policies, services and activities relating to social cohesion, community safety and crime and disorder.
The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee specifically:
1. Discharged the Council’s functions under Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 (Scrutiny Committees);
2. Oversaw the Council’s overall scrutiny function including the preparation, implementation, monitoring and review of an annual work programme for scrutiny and arrangements for the scrutiny of other public bodies particularly where required to do so by law and where partners could contribute to Community Plan priorities and to Local Area Agreement outcomes;
3. Established such task and finish groups, appointing the Chairman with such membership as it saw fit, to undertake scrutiny on a task and finish basis;
4. Ensured that officers discharged their responsibilities effectively and efficiently in relation to the scrutiny function;
5. Scrutinised decisions of the Cabinet, and offered advice or made recommendations on the matter under scrutiny once the Committee had considered the issues;
6 Referred to the Council or appropriate Committee/Sub-Committee any matter which, following scrutiny, the Committee determined should be brought to the attention of the Council or the Committee or Sub-Committee;
7. If requested, offered any views or advice to the Cabinet in relation to any matter referred to the Committee for consideration;
8. Undertook general policy reviews with a cross-service and multi-organisational approach wherever possible and made recommendations to the Council or the Cabinet to assist in the development of future policies and strategies;
9. In performing its role, consulted and involved the local community and other local public, private and voluntary bodies or organisations;
10. Reviewed the Council’s response to its obligations in respect of the overall performance management regime and where appropriate advised the Cabinet and the Council of its findings;
11. Scrutinised decisions after implementation to examine their effect and outcomes;
12. Reviewed and made recommendations in relation to matters which were not the direct responsibility of the Council but which affect the social, economic and environmental well-being of an area, or the Council’s area as a whole, or under any statutory requirement or Council contract, procedure or practice;
13. Developed, maintained and monitored policies and procedures for handling complaints made against the Council and monitored on a regular basis the level and nature of complaints received and ensured that advice was formulated regarding action to be taken to address areas of concern;
14. Monitored the level and nature of Ombudsman complaints and advised the Cabinet, Committees, Sub-Committees and officers on remedial action as appropriate;
15. Ensured in conjunction with the Standards, and Governance and Constitution Committees that the Council have in place appropriate mechanisms to protect organisational Integrity including the development of appropriate policies and guidance; |