Issue - meetings

Purpose: The Annual Scrutiny report for 2024/25 provides a summary of the work of the Scrutiny Commission, and Health Scrutiny Committee, as well as the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Council considered the annual report from the Council’s Scrutiny Committees for 2024/25 (Agenda Item 13).

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Carolyne Culver and seconded by Councillor Christopher Read:

“That Council is informed about the contents of the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/25.”

Councillor Culver introduced the report and highlighted that the report was based on the work of the now reorganised Scrutiny Commission and Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Commission had spent a significant amount of time scrutinising the Council’s finances over the year, which continued to be a priority with the new Resources and Plance Scrutiny Committee. In addition, they had done extensive work around Children Services and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.

Members were satisfied that the Scrutiny Commission and Health Scrutiny Committee had effectively held the Executive to account, ensured good governance, and provided meaningful recommendations, despite the majority of seats on those bodies being filled by Members of the Administration.

Council also thanked the Chairman of both bodies for their leadership and effectiveness over the past year, as well as thanking those Officers that supported the Scrutiny function of the Council.

Although the Council now had a new Scrutiny structure, Members were satisfied that the positive work would be continued and expanded into areas such as Local Government Reorganisation, Libraries, and cross-working with other authorities’ Scrutiny Committees on areas that involved multiple local authorities.

Council agreed to note the report.