The political landscape in which overview and scrutiny committees operate has been subject to pressures from both communities and local residents, to ensure they focus on issues that are of concern to them. Recent Inquiries have highlighted the need for more and increased openness and transparency of decision making and robust scrutiny of those decisions. Alongside this is the demand placed on the scrutiny function for real time holding to account through increased use of social media and digital technologies.
Scrutiny during the Covid-19 pandemic presented further challenges and opportunities for adapted ways of delivering governance, some of which will be explored during the session.
Member relationships and cross-party issues can either help or hinder scrutiny outcomes. Whilst these, and other pressures, create many challenges for officers who lead, manage and support scrutiny committees, they also provide opportunities for ensuring that scrutiny work is effectively linked to local priorities and outcomes. This practical course will provide space for consideration of these matters, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with the speaker and with each other, share experience and ask questions.
The course will consider the context and different ways of delivering the OSC function and role in a complex governance and accountability framework. It will consider the complexities and challenges faced by officers who are delivering multiple roles supporting committees. Sessions will include:
The legislative context and guidance
Structures and systems in which overview and scrutiny is delivered
Political and organisational culture
Work programming
Good practice examples and case studies
The environment in which officers operate
Member officer roles and responsibilities
Looking forward- nationally and locally
Considering the implications of pandemic on practice
This workshop is for you if you are:
New to supporting overview and scrutiny
Want to explore how best to support scrutiny members
The Statutory Scrutiny Officer
Involved in committee, democratic work and want to broaden your role.
Head of Scrutiny, Hertfordshire County Council
Since becoming Head of Scrutiny in 2017, Natalie has reinvigorated scrutiny and raised its profile. Previously she worked to help take forward integrated working between the local clinical commissioning groups and social care. She joined scrutiny in 2005.
Natalie is chair of governors at a successful Hertfordshire secondary school. Here she uses her governance expertise to support and challenge the school.
Director of Practice, Centre for Governance and Scrutiny
Camilla has worked in Scrutiny for the best part of two decades. She has worked across several Councils, including a Unitary, a City Council, and two County Councils including most recently as Head of Scrutiny at Devon County Council, leading a small team to support Councillors in positive challenge. Since graduating from Sussex in Politics and International relations, she has worked across public sector organisations in scrutiny, consultation, policy and lobbying.
Camilla’s governance and review work has spanned all areas of the Council and NHS, and she was the principal health scrutiny officer for eight years. During her time in scrutiny, she has produced in excess of thirty task group review reports including notable work on problem gambling, the armed forces and health systems. Camilla has also taken the lead in the Heart of the South West joint LEP Scrutiny Committee and new and returning Councillor induction being conducted remotely during the pandemic.
Whilst working full time Camilla has completed an MSc in Policy Research from Bristol University and last year completed her MBA and Senior Leader ILM qualification from Exeter University.
For the past year Camilla has worked for the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny running improvement reviews at different Councils as well as refreshing the offer to regional scrutiny networks. For many years Camilla has also run learning sessions for a variety of Councils, Councillors and officers in elements of good governance.
Related training
09:30 - 14:45
Online
