Committee details

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee is responsible for examining, or reviewing, the decisions, policies and services of West Berkshire Council that relate to Public Health and Adult Social Care.

It also seeks assurance that the needs and experiences of local residents are considered as an integral part of the planning, development and operation of health services and that those services are safe and effective in meeting local needs.

In addition, health scrutiny has a strategic role in taking an overview of how well integration of health, public health and social care is working and making recommendations about how it could be improved. 

The Committee responds to formal consultations on health matters. Health bodies are required to consult the Health and Adult Social Care Committee about any proposals they have for a substantial development or variation in the provision of health services in their area.

Additionally, health scrutiny has a legitimate role in: proactively seeking information about the performance of local health services and institutions; in challenging the information provided to it by commissioners and health service providers; and in testing this information by drawing on different sources of intelligence.

It is made up of nine Members, reflecting the political composition of the Authority. Members of the Executive cannot be members of this or any scrutiny committee.

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee usually meets four times per year. It can either consider scrutiny topics during a full Committee meeting, or delegate topics to a task group which will report back to the Committee with its findings and recommendations.

Scrutiny of health matters that affect patient flows across local authority boundaries is undertaken by a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (see Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee).

Scrutiny of other services is undertaken by the Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Contact:  Democratic Services

Further information links:

Scrutiny at West Berkshire Council

Getting Involved in Reviewing Council Decisions

Part 6.4 of the Council’s Constitution