Use this page for information about Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels.
Policy Development and Scrutiny Panels, also known as Overview and Scrutiny, are groups of Councillors and appointed members who act as a council watchdog. They oversee the Council’s work and other organisations’ service delivery, focusing on local community issues, health, and community safety.
Their objectives include:
- holding the Cabinet and officers to account
- ensuring Council services offer good value
- investigating issues affecting Bath and North East Somerset residents
- engaging local people in the scrutiny process
Functions of the Panels
The Panels set a work plan to focus on service delivery areas, sometimes forming joint panels for specific tasks. They can hold other public bodies accountable and select issues that could significantly benefit the local community for in-depth investigation.
These investigations are carried out through an established project management review process, involving research and consultation over several months. Or they may conduct this work during shorter Scrutiny Inquiry Days.
Remit and structure
To find out more about what each Panel has the remit to scrutinise, see part 2 of the Council's Constitution
To view which Councillors and co-optees sit on each Panel, view the Committee structure webpage.
Panels’ legal responsibilities
The Panels have legal duties, including:
- Call-in: Re-examining decisions by Cabinet Members, if requested by ten or more councillors
- Health: Overseeing local health services, especially during changes
- Community Safety: Reviewing the effectiveness of the Community Safety Strategy
- Water Management/Flooding: Scrutinizing the Council’s approach to water management and flood-risk areas
- Councillor Call for Action: Addressing unresolved issues, at a Councillor’s request
Limitations of the Panels
The Panels do not:
- make decisions on Council policies and services, only recommendations
- investigate regulatory decisions in areas like planning or licensing applications
- handle individual queries or complaints, which should go through:
- Council Connect (phone: 01225 39 40 41 or email council_connect@bathnes.gov.uk)
- our Make a complaint or Complaints and Customer Feedback services
Public Involvement
Members of the public can:
- attend public Panel meetings and suggest topics for scrutiny
- participate in consultations
- register to contribute or provide evidence to a Panel
- comment on the Panels’ work by contacting our Democratic Services team