Contents
- Key information about Overview and Scrutiny.
- Snapshot of scrutiny development in 2023/2024.
- Overview and Scrutiny in Numbers 2023/2024.
- Snapshot of some of the Key Achievements 2023/2024.
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- Overview and Scrutiny Board.
- Spotlight Review of South West Water
- Review of Events, Culture and Tourism.
- Spotlight Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Scrutiny of Adult Social Care and Health.
- Spotlight Review of Homelessness.
- Spotlight Review of Dementia Support in Torbay.
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- Topic List
- Current and Future Work Programme.
- Call-in of decisions.
- Councillor Call for Action.
- Community involvement
Foreword
This year has been a busy year for Overview and Scrutiny, following Local Government Elections in May 2023 and continuing to respond to the issues arising from the cost-of-living crisis, as well as working with our communities and partners to make improvements in respect of services for our children as well as holding partners in health to account and being a critical friend to our adult social care service through the main Board and the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board and Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.
We continued to take a leading role in the Leader and Cabinet’s Budget development for 2024/2025 and I am pleased that most of our recommendations informed the final budget proposals. In addition to the budget, the Board and it’s Sub-Boards have investigated several issues and I believe has made a notable difference in some of the key decisions made by the Cabinet, the public and private sector partners. I would like to particularly draw attention to the following parts of the report:
Spotlight Review of South West Water - Our review of issues around water quality in Torbay was a timely piece of work as this matter continues to be in the media over the last 12 months. The Board invited South West Water along to a meeting and we were able to hold the company to account around the public of Torbay’s concerns.
Spotlight Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - It was particularly heartening to hear directly from the voice of young people around their experiences of this service.
Spotlight Review of Dementia Support in Torbay - Raised awareness of the need for advanced dementia care and training, which would be addressed through the development of a co-produced Dementia Strategy to ensure that Torbay residents can access information and support they need.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a part in contributing towards the work of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Boards, Sub-Boards and Panels. Particular thanks should go to Councillor Adam Billings and Councillor Yvonne Twelves who have both ably Chaired the Board prior to my appointment in December 2023. Overview and Scrutiny, the Cabinet and our key partners in Health, the voluntary sector and Police have continued to work together to try to make a positive difference for the people of Torbay.
1. Key information about Overview and Scrutiny
The operation of overview and scrutiny
There have been a number of changes to the Leadership and membership of Overview and Scrutiny over the past year.
Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator:
Councillor Billings from May 2023 until July 2023
Councillor Twelves from 7 September 2023 until 7 December 2023
Councillor Steve Darling since 7 December 2023
The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator is supported by Scrutiny Lead Members:
- Councillor Law – Children’s Services;
- Councillor Joyce – Adult, Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities;
- Councillors Twelves and Hutchings – Housing, Finance and Corporate Services; and
- Councillors Maddison and Long – Place Development, Economic Growth and Culture.
The Overview and Scrutiny Board meets monthly with Task and Finish Panels created to consider topics in greater detail. During the last year the following Members have served on the Overview and Scrutiny Board: Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Cowell, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fellows, Fox, Harvey, Hutchings, Johns, Joyce, Law, Barbara Lewis, Long, Maddison, Strang, Jackie Thomas, Tolchard and Twelves.
There are two dedicated Sub-Boards:
The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board provides greater focus on issues in relation to adult social care and health and fulfils the statutory health overview and scrutiny function and normally meets monthly.
This Board comprised of five Councillors and was Chaired by the Scrutiny Lead for Adult, Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities - Councillor Joyce. During the last year the following Members have served on the Sub-Board: Councillors Billings, Fellows, Harvey, Johns, Joyce, Barbara Lewis, Long, Maddison, Tolchard and Twelves. Representatives from Healthwatch Torbay and the Voluntary Sector Network were appointed as non-voting co-opted members on the Board to help provide independent expert advice.
The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board is responsible for overview and scrutiny of Children’s Services and meets bi-monthly.
This Sub-Board comprised of five Councillors and was Chaired by the Scrutiny Lead for Children’s Services – Councillor Law. During the last year the following Members have served on the Sub-Board: Councillors Billings, Fellows, Joyce, Law, Nicolaou, Tolchard and Twelves. Representatives from Devon and Cornwall Police, Play Torbay, Voluntary and Community Setor and Alternative Provision (Education) and the Church of England Diocese to help provide the voice of the child or young person and independent expert advice.
Scrutiny’s Role
To make recommendations to the Cabinet, Council or key partners in accordance with following principles:
- Focusing on the issues which matter.
- Policy Development is of equal importance to “holding to account”.
- The Forward Plan is the key tool for managing the decision making process.
- The relationship between overview and scrutiny and the Cabinet should seek to complement one another.
- All Councillors should have the opportunity to help shape policy decisions at an early stage.
Meetings:
Are open to the public to attend.
- Typically last 2-3 hours.
- Meet regularly (during the daytime and evenings).
- Have a formal structure, but are run in an accessible way.
- Papers are published on the Council’s website at Committee structure (torbay.gov.uk).
Residents and stakeholders can get involved by:
Attending public meetings;
2. Snapshot of scrutiny development in 2023/2024
Focusing on the issues which matter
The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board has undertaken the statutory health scrutiny duty (on behalf of the main Board) providing oversight of health services in Torbay and clinical services across the peninsula and has also taken part in masterclass sessions run by Devon County Council. It has held our health partners to account including Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, One Devon and NHS England for delivery of services to the residents of Torbay.
The Overview and Scrutiny Board continued to receive regular reports on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets and monitor key performance indicators. It has closely monitored and challenged the performance and outcomes for children holding the Cabinet and our key partners to account through the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.
Equal importance placed on policy development
The Overview and Scrutiny Board and its Sub-Boards provided feedback during the development of the following Council’s key Policy Framework Documents.
- Community and Corporate Plan
- Thriving Communities Where People Can Prosper - Draft Strategy for Adult Social Care in Torbay
- Torbay Council English Riviera (Outdoor) Events Strategy 2021 – 2027
- English Riviera Destination Management Plan 2022 – 2030
Complementing the work of the Cabinet
The Overview and Scrutiny Board continue to seek to complement the work of the Cabinet, with Quarterly Overview and Scrutiny Leadership meetings held between the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator, Overview and Scrutiny Board Vice-Chairman, Group Leaders and Chairman of the Audit Committee to review work programmes and determine where Overview and Scrutiny can add value.
Pre-Briefings and Work Planning
Monthly briefings have enabled better member engagement and more focussed debate at Board meetings, developing key lines of questioning and exploring upcoming items to ensure relevant items are considered at the right time with key attendees invited to contribute towards discussions. They have also monitored implementation of recommendations and received updates on topics to determine if they should be included in the Work Programmes. The Forward Plan was also used as a tool to identify key issues for consideration by the Board and Sub-Boards.
4. Snapshot of some of the Key Achievements 2023/2024
Overview and Scrutiny Board
At its first meeting of the year, the Overview and Scrutiny Board considered a report on the future operation of Overview and Scrutiny which sought to encourage greater awareness and engagement both across the Council and in the community of the important role of Overview and Scrutiny.
The report included ten recommendations – see Operation of Overview Scrutiny.pdf. The following actions have been taken to address these recommendations:
- A Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Role Protocol has been developed and is due to be approved by Council on 16 May 2024;
- Cabinet Members and relevant Directors have continued to attend meetings of Overview and Scrutiny Boards/Sub-Boards to respond to questions;
- Introduction to Overview and Scrutiny and Scrutiny of Partners training sessions have been held and Councillors have been encouraged to attend further training provided by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) and the Local Government Association (LGA) to expand their knowledge;
- Promotion of topics of interest with the support of our Communications and Engagement Team through emails, press releases, social media posts and also invitations to the public to take part in providing questions and evidence for topics such as dentistry, dementia support and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This has also resulted in some TV coverage as well as articles appearing on the BBC Devon News webpage;
- Utilised all different methods identified in recommendations (a) to (f) over the past year;
- Implemented the Quarterly Overview and Scrutiny meeting as well as continued the Council Leadership Group with who receive the latest work programmes;
- The Director of Corporate Services was nominated as the Lead Officer from the Senior Leadership Team to assist in providing a strategic overview and support to Overview and Scrutiny working closely with the Statutory Scrutiny Officer;
- The creation of a six monthly bulletin was not implemented as regular communications have been sent out to staff, Councillors and the public on the work of Overview and Scrutiny and it was felt that this was not needed; and
- The monthly Overview and Scrutiny Briefings have been utilised to reflect on reviews and the work of Overview and Scrutiny to learn and make improvements.
Spotlight Review of South West Water
The Overview and Scrutiny Board held a Spotlight Review on issues of concern regarding services provided by South West Water (SWW) and how the Council could work together with SWW to improve outcomes and communication for the residents of Torbay. The Panel heard evidence from the Director of Waste Water Services, Recovery, Treatment and Networks; Waste Water Services Regional Operations Manager; Operations Manager; Tor Bay Harbour Master and Divisional Director – Maritime & Coastal Services and Principal Policy and Project Planner, Strategy and Project Management. The review resulted in:
- Improved communication and greater public engagement with the Council, residents and South West Water (SWW), including local campaigns and raising awareness of the need to save water and protect the environment and ecology as well as reporting leaks etc to SWW and sharing SWW social media posts on the Council’s social media;
- Helped raise awareness of pollution incidents in our seas around Torbay and how SWW was seeking to tackle them;
- All Councillors and Planning Officers being invited to take part in Planning Training on Drainage and Flooding;
- A follow up session planned for 2024/2025 with the Environment Agency also invited to take part as it has a lead role in monitoring water quality; and
- Tor Bay Harbour Authority working towards replacing signs bay wide to have the relevant links to QR codes for water quality to raise awareness.
Full details on this Spotlight Review can be viewed at Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Board on Thursday, 5 October 2023, 5.30pm
Review of Events, Culture and Tourism
The Overview and Scrutiny Board established a Review of Events, Culture and Tourism Task and Finish Group who worked with the Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, Culture & Events and Parking, the Divisional Director Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, the Service Manager for Culture and Events, the Executive Director of Torbay Culture and the Chief Executive of the English Riviera Business Improvement District to explore issues around:
- Use of our cultural assets;
- Use of data to inform our decision-making;
- The Torbay Council English Riviera (Outdoor) Events Strategy 2021 – 2027 (Events Strategy) and the English Riviera Destination Management Plan (DMP) 2022 – 2030 to ensure they are up to date; and
This Review resulted in the following:
- positive action and raised profile in connection with the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark with further bids for funding being supported;
- additional funding being allocated to events in the 2024/2025 Revenue Budget;
- the Overview and Scrutiny Board reviewing annually the delivery against the Torre Abbey Business Plan, Events Strategy and Destination Management Plan;
- a refresh of the Events Strategy;
- a full review of the Events information and application information on the Council’s website being undertaken;
The full report and details of the Cabinet’s response to the Review can be viewed at Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, 5.30pm
Continued to Support Children’s Services Improvement Journey
The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board has had a busy year working with and holding to account the Director of Children’s Services and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and our key partners across a wide range of topics.
In response to feedback the time of the Sub-Board meetings will be amended from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm to 3pm - 6pm with effect from June 2024 to enable more young people to attend the meetings.
Spotlight Review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board undertook a Spotlight Review on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). They heard evidence from young people, members of the public, School Representative, Healthwatch Torbay, NHS Devon, the Director of Children’s Services, Public Health, Clinical Director CAMHS, Child and Family Devon, Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. The Review acknowledged that it was a multi-agency partnership responsibility to ensure that the needs of our children and young people requiring support for their mental health needs are met.
The Review resulted in the following:
- raising the profile of CAMHS services and other ways of supporting young people with their emotional and mental health needs;
- identified a need to reduce waiting times for formal CAMHS referrals;
- better signposting to available support was required;
- the importance of co-designing services with young people and their families; and
- the need to develop better pathways for early years support.
Full details of the Spotlight Review can be viewed at Agenda for Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Thursday, 7 December 2023, 1.30pm.
Scrutiny of Adult Social Care and Health
The Adult Social Care and Heath Sub-Board has spent the last 12 months getting up to speed and understanding the complexities of adult social care and health. This included the new Care Quality Commission Regulation of local authority functions relating to Adult Social Care with a similar inspection regime to Children’s Services which is carried out by Ofsted, as well as the new Integrated Care Organisation and Board arrangements which had come into force regionally.
The Sub Board held Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to account for the delivery of services at Torbay Hospital and continue to receive regular updates in relation to the delivery of the capital programme and redesign of Torbay Hospital.
Spotlight Review of Homelessness
The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny undertook a Spotlight Review on homelessness to:
- better understand how homelessness could be prevented in Torbay;
- how people could be helped;
- how people were assisted into accommodation and how people were supported when in accommodation;
- identify whether existing pathways and systems in place to prevent homelessness could be improved in Torbay and how; and
- identify and target specific areas for more detailed scrutiny investigation.
As part of the Review Members visited the Leonard Stocks Hostel and temporary accommodation facility at Morgan Avenue. They also viewed a video which was commissioned as part of the Safer Street grant funding which provided a human face to homelessness and the valuable work undertaken by the Leonard Stocks Hostel. They heard evidence from the Divisional Director of Community and Customer Services, the Head of Housing Needs, the Anti-Social Behaviour and Noise Lead Officer, the Service Manager Torbay Recovery Initiatives (Torbay Drug and Alcohol Services), the Locality Practice Lead (South), and the Chief Executive of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
The Review resulted in:
- further publicising the Landlord Tenancy Matching Scheme and its benefits to unlock additional housing capacity within the private rented sector;
- promotion of the positive work of the Leonard Stocks Hostel via One Torbay and to local communities and businesses as part of the Safer Streets Initiative;
- continued and wider user engagement to inform the revised Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy;
- a review of security for the Leonard Stocks Hostel;
- a review of support contracts to assist those with mental health and housing support needs;
- agreement with the Police that additional resources were needed to tackle anti-social behaviour around Castle Circus;
- a review of communications around benefits assistance available that could support those threatened with homelessness as well as working with the Community Helpline and other organisations; and
- the Director of Pride in Place was instructed to develop detailed delivery plans to accelerate the provision of new affordable housing to meet Torbay’s local housing need, specifically social rented housing and affordable rented housing.
The full report and details of the Cabinet’s response to the Review can be viewed at Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 9 January 2024, 5.30pm.
Spotlight Review of Dementia Support in Torbay
The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board undertook a Spotlight Review on Dementia to understand support and services available to people living with Dementia and people Caring for those living with Dementia in Torbay, together with the challenges currently faced and how this could be improved. They heard evidence from the Director of Adult and Community Services, Divisional Director of Adult Social Care, Consultant in Public Health, Head of Integrated Care (South West) NHS Devon, Community Services Manager (Health and Social Care) Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust/Devon Care Partnership, Chief Executive Officer Healthwatch Torbay, Chief Officer Age UK Torbay, Chief Executive Rowcroft Hospice.
The Review resulted in:
- support for the co-production of a wider Dementia Strategy with specific interest in ensuring that Torbay residents can easily access information and support though a joint organisational approach;
- a request for the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities to write to the Secretary of State and the Integrated Care System for Devon to highlight the need for advanced Dementia care which is innovative and which can provide efficient services for Torbay, being a coastal resort with an ageing population facing an increase in significant bed shortages particularly for those living with dementia;
- a request for the Director of Adult and Community Services to scope what access to training exists across the Voluntary Sector, Carers and domiciliary care agencies and to explore with NHS Partners wider access to online portal training for dementia awareness and support; and
- a request for the Director of Adult and Community Services to explore whether access to hive models could be included on Torbay Council’s website.
The background to the Review can be viewed at Agenda for Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Thursday, 14 March 2024, 2pm. It is expected that the Review will be considered at the Cabinet meeting on
6. Topic List
Overview and Scrutiny Board
- Budget Monitoring Outturn 2022/2023
- Internal Audit Review of Torbay Food and Music Festival Process Review
- Cost of Living Crisis Funding
- Operation of Overview and Scrutiny
- Initial Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2023/2024
- Disposal of Assets Call-In
- Spotlight Review on English Riviera Airshow
- Levelling Up Bill and Regeneration Bill
- Review of Planning Services Fit for the Future
- Review of current climate change related work - including Torbay Climate Emergency Action Plan (consultation draft 2023-2025)
- Budget Monitoring Quarter 1 2023/2024
- South West Water Spotlight Review
- Community and Corporate Plan
- Capital and Growth Highlight Report on Capital Programme Monitoring
- Torbay Council Investment Portfolio - KPI Dashboard
- Armed Forces Covenant and Military Compensation Call-in of Cabinet Decision
- Prostate Cancer UK Campaign 'Boys need bins' Call-in of Cabinet Decision
- Draft Key Performance Indicators for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Area Strategy
- Budget Monitoring Quarter 2 2023/2024
- Safer Communities Torbay Annual Review, including:
- Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence
- Torbay Combating Drugs Partnership
- Operation Loki
- Anti-social Behaviour
- Prevent and Modern Slavery
- Review of Political Balance of Overview and Scrutiny Review Panels
- SWISCo Annual Report
- Councillor Call for Action - Review of Investigation into Removal of the Palm Trees at the Italian Gardens, Torquay
- Performance Monitoring 2023/2024 Quarter 3
- Budget Monitoring 2023/24 – Quarter 3 Revenue and Capital Outturn Forecast
- Revenue and Capital Budget 2024/2025 - Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Board
- Events, Culture and Tourism Review - Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Board
- Torbay Interagency Carers' Strategy 2024-27
- Review of investigation into the removal of palm trees from Torquay's Italian Gardens
- Review of Capital Projects
- Councillor Call for Action - Planning Enforcement
- Council Business Plan
- Governance and Commissioning Review of Local Authority Company – SWISCo
- Review of Council Procurement Policies and Food and Music Festival
- Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2023/2024
- Initial Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2024/2025
Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board
- Ofsted Annual Conversation Letter
- Our Promise to You - The Torbay Pledge to care for and care experienced children/young people
- Exploitation and Children Missing
- Children's Continuous Improvement Board Update
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Work Programme 2023/2024
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Review of Membership of Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board
- Youth Provision in Torbay
- Adopt South West - Regional Adoption Agency Annual Report
- Torbay Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Joint Inspection Written Statement of Action Update
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Emotional Wellbeing Support Spotlight Review
- Youth Justice Service
- Family Hub Sustainability and Holiday Activity and Food Programme
- Exclusions and Absence
- Progress Report on the Implementation of the Children's Service Continuous Improvement Plan 2022/25
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Virtual School Annual Report 2022/2023
- School Mental Health Programme
- Children's Services Self-Assessment
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Sufficiency Strategy and Permanence for Children
- Schools Capital Programme Review
- Update on UNICEF work to be a Child Friendly Torbay
- Update on Special Educational Needs (SEND)
- Torbay Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Joint Inspection Written Statement of Action Update
- Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI)
- Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board
- Terms of Reference and Membership of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Work Programme 2023/24
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Quality Account 2022/23
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Thriving Communities Where People Can Prosper - Draft Strategy for Adult Social Care in Torbay
- Draft Learning Disability Strategy
- Adult Social Care Procurement and Contracting Review and Action Plan
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- NHS Delivery - Building a Brighter Future Programme Update
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Spotlight Review on Homelessness in Torbay
- Torbay update - Where are we now in the local context?
- NHS England and NHS Improvement South West Dental Reform Strategy
- Psychiatric Medication Supervision
- Quality of Care and Domiciliary Care
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Adult Social Care Self Assessment
- CQC update following inspection
- Adult Social Care renewal of Memorandum of Understanding
- Review of Adults’ safeguarding
- Review of new pathways for adults with learning difficulties
- Update on the Pharmacy First scheme
- Public Health infection prevention and control
- Public Health – Building Heart Healthy Communities in Torbay
- Adult Social Care Improvement Board co-production update
- Progress on new diagnostic unit
- Residential Nursing and Care Homes
- Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
- Spotlight Review on Dementia Support in Torbay
- NHS Delivery - Building a Brighter Future Programme Update
- Local Government Association (LGA) Contract Management Review
Panels
7. Current and Future Work Programme
The Overview and Scrutiny work programme needs to be flexible in order to address any issues that arise throughout the Municipal Year. A number of new topics were added to the programme during the year and the timing of some of the items was varied to enable key items to be considered in a timely manner.
The Work Programmes for 2024/2025 will be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Board on 10 April 2024 and then to the subsequent Sub-Boards.
Overview and Scrutiny will continue with its flexible approach to work programming to ensure that it is able to react to issues as they arise and in respect of Task and Finish Review Panels and Spotlight Reviews, which will be subject to available staff resources.
8. Call-in of decisions
The call-in process is one of the mechanisms which can be used to hold the Cabinet to account. The purpose of a call-in is to examine the decisions reached by the Cabinet (or other decision makers) and the reasoning behind those decisions. The process enables further public debate to be held on the subject. The Overview and Scrutiny Board can then consider whether in their view, the decision was appropriate and make recommendations accordingly.
There were three call-ins during 2023/2024.
9. Community involvement
The Overview and Scrutiny Boards and Panels engage with a wide selection of groups, organisations and individuals. We welcome the opportunity to hear from members of the public at our meetings whose input is important in understanding the concerns and needs of our communities. To support this approach and in addition to the statutory education co-opted members the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board includes a number of non-voting co-opted members to provide independent expert advice and help represent the voice of the child and young person.
Representatives from Healthwatch Torbay and the Voluntary Sector Network were also appointed as non-voting co-opted members on the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board to help provide independent expert advice together with relaying a service user perspective.
How to get involved in overview and scrutiny
Attend meetings – our scrutiny meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to come along and listen to the debate and discussion. Please note that reports may be considered in private if they contain confidential information.
- Ask a question or make a point – if you would like to make a representation at a meeting, please email support@torbay.gov.uk at least two days before the meeting so that we can let the Chairman know in advance. It is helpful to know what you would like to raise in order for it to be considered at the appropriate time during the discussions.
- Request a review – if there is something you think scrutiny could look at, then let us know via support@torbay.gov.uk
- Consultation and participation – you could be asked for your views on an issue or be invited to provide specialist knowledge you might have by being a witness in a scrutiny review.
Contact Us
Overview and Scrutiny
Torbay Council
Town Hall
Torquay
TQ1 3DR