Civic Centre Access Restrictions

VISITORS to Hartlepool Civic Centre and the adjoining Law Courts are advised that essential repair work is ongoing at the front entrance to the building. Access is restricted during these works

What is Scrutiny?

How Scrutiny Works in Hartlepool

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Hartlepool's Political Management Structure

Hartlepool's political management structure consists of an Elected Mayor/Cabinet of councillors (each with a portfolio of responsibility for particular services that the Council provides) and Scrutiny Committees.

Local Authorities have a general responsibility to promote the "economic, social and environmental well-being of their communities" (Local Government Act 2000). Scrutiny Committees play a part in this by using the power they have been given to scrutinise matters which are not the direct responsibility of the Council, but which affect the Council's area or its people and by making subsequent recommendations to the Authority's decision making body.

The powers of Overview and Scrutiny Committees are set out in the Local Government Act 2000 and in the Council's Constitution.

Key Functions of Scrutiny in Hartlepool

The key functions of Overview and Scrutiny are:-

Policy development and review
Holding the Executive to account
Performance review
External Scrutiny (Health)

Overview and Scrutiny helps ensure that the Council delivers upon its objectives and achieves its vision for the town by creating an open transparent mechanism for Councillors to shape, question, evaluate and challenge policies, decisions and performance.

Overview and Scrutiny, however, is not a decision making body. What Overview and Scrutiny can do is make recommendations that will add value to the services the Council provides to the Authority's decision making body, whether Cabinet or full Council. Overview and Scrutiny's role is therefore distinct from the Executive but not in opposition to it.

Scrutiny Structure in Hartlepool

The Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee and five standing Scrutiny Forums carry out all of the Overview and Scrutiny functions here in Hartlepool. Scrutiny Committee Members are drawn from Elected Councillors who are not Members of the Executive (Cabinet) and for the Children's Services Scrutiny Forum Co opted members (School Governors, Diocese Representatives and Young People). The places on the Committees are normally allocated in proportion to the number of seats each party holds on the Council as a whole. The Chairs and Vice-Chairs can be opposition or majority party members.

Please bear in mind that Scrutiny does not deal with individual complaints or concerns.