Overview and Scrutiny

Overview & Scrutiny aims to make decision making more accountable, transparent and inclusive and to improve services provided for the community by:

• Holding the Council's Executive Committee and Planning Committee to account for the decisions they make.
• Reviewing and developing the Council's policies to ensure that they improve the well being of the community
• Scrutinising the decisions of outside organisations who's work affects the local community

How does Overview & Scrutiny Work?

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee acts as the Council's watchdog by undertaking the scrutiny and review of Council services and the services provided by other public bodies.

The Committee gathers as much evidence as it can about an issue by undertaking research, this may include speaking with service users and community groups, questioning Portfolio Holders, Council officers or representatives from other public bodies or undertaking fact finding visits. Overview and Scrutiny provides an excellent opportunity for the public to become involved in influencing services by providing evidence to  the Committee.

Based on the evidence collected, a report and recommendations for improvement. will be published. The Committee will pass on the recommendations to the Executive Committee, Planning Committee or Council for decision.

What issues are the Committee currently looking at?

The Committee holds regular meetings with Executive Committee Portfolio Holders to review each key area of activitiy within the Council.  In addition to this, it also undertakes more in depth reviews using Task & Finish Groups.

Disabled Facilities Grants Administered Within Malvern Hills' District

A Task and Finish Group Chaired by Councillor Susan Gill recently conducted a review into Disabled Facilities Grants administered within Malvern Hill's District. This was an area the Committee had earmarked within their Work Programme for sometime in order to identify the obstacles that can result in delays in excess of twelve months between submission of grant applications and payment of Grant. The remit was alos extended to scrutinise funding. Two reports were produced - Initial Findings into Funding  (160.54 KB) (February 2009) and Final Report  (105.64 KB) (May 2009).

Review of Positive Activities Available to Young Persons, Aged 13 to 17 Years, Throughout the District

The meeting on 19th May will also receive an update on the progress to date of the Recommnedations arising from this Task and Finish Review which took place last year under the Chairmanship of Councillor Joe Smith, one of the youngest District Councillors in the country, who had requested this be looked into with a special focus on activities availablle during the evenings and at weekends.

Should you wish to find out more you are welcome to attend the meeting which starts at 6:00p.m. in Priory Lodge Hall, Avenue Road Malvern.

Details of what the Committee has considered this year will be available in the forthcoming Annual Report 2008/09 last year's Annual Report is available and can be accessed a little further down this page. you can also see what the Committee has done, how it operates and how it welcomes public participation by viewing Overview and Committee agendas and minutes

The Committee are currently reviewing their Work Programme for 2009/10.

How can I get involved?

The Committee welcomes views and information from the public on issues that affect the District so please take the opportunity to have your say by sending us an email at committee@malvernhills.gov.uk.

You may also wish to attend a meeting to have your say, or speak with a Member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on a one-to-one basis.

Annual Report 2007/08  (535.50 KB)

If you would like more information, please contact Democratic Services via Customer Services:

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