Response 2548271

Response to request for information

Reference

2548271

Response date

12 January 2023

Request

If your local authority doesn’t not have an overview and scrutiny system please answer the following in relation to the committee within your councils which has audit responsibilities.

If your local authority has an overview and scrutiny system please note that as audit committees are not formally treated as part of scrutiny it may be that they are treated differently in the council’s constitution and policies.

Please confirm whether you are responding to this request in relation to scrutiny committees and/or audit committees.

If your local authority has an overview and scrutiny committee system, please confirm how many committees (excluding audit) are part of that system?

Policy on Selection & Appointment of Committee Chairs: Please provide the council’s current policy on selection and appointment of scrutiny committee chairs and audit committee chairs. Please either copy and paste the section of council policy relating to the selection of scrutiny and audit committee chairs or provide a link and details of the section/sub-section within the document where we can locate this information.

Current Political Configuration of Committee Chairs/Conveners: Please provide a figure showing what percentage of current scrutiny and audit committee chairs (or conveners) are members of an opposition party to the main controlling party or controlling coalition.

Response

If your local authority has an overview and scrutiny committee system, please confirm how many committees (excluding audit) are part of that system?

Rushcliffe Borough Council operates an overview and scrutiny committee system. There is a corporate overview group and three scrutiny committees. Audit is a function of the Governance Scrutiny Committee, not a separate committee and therefore cannot be excluded.

Policy on Selection & Appointment of Committee Chairs: Please provide the council’s current policy on selection and appointment of scrutiny committee chairs and audit committee chairs. Please either copy and paste the section of council policy relating to the selection of scrutiny and audit committee chairs or provide a link and details of the section/sub-section within the document where we can locate this information.

The appointment of committee chairs and vice chairs is the responsibility of the Leader in conjunction with their political party. There is no policy to share.

Current Political Configuration of Committee Chairs/Conveners: Please provide a figure showing what percentage of current scrutiny and audit committee chairs (or conveners) are members of an opposition party to the main controlling party or controlling coalition.

Currently, there are seven positions as chairs or vice chairs of scrutiny committees. Five are from the leading political party and two are from opposition groups. This is in line with the political proportionality of the council.