Council Constitution

Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution

Article 8 - Overview (Audit) Panel

8.1 Role

The Overview (Audit) Panel shall act as a mechanism to allow for dialogue between Executive and Scrutiny to provide a constant rolling review (but not scrutiny) of Council activities and will have responsibility to overview the Council’s best value programme and budget. It will also provide an important role in forward business planning for the Council’s agenda.

The Panel will also provide for agenda planning for future scrutiny programmes and provide important links for policy review and future policy development.

8.2 Membership

The Overview (Audit) Panel shall comprise the Chairs of the Scrutiny Panels, the Executive Leader, and two other relevant Cabinet Deputies, the Chair of Council Business, two front line Councillors (two of whom shall be the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Panel) and two Members of the Opposition Groups, subject to the political balance rules.

The Main Opposition Group spokespersons shadowing the Cabinet Deputy Briefs will have the facility to attend and speak (but not vote) on agenda items relating to their brief.

8.3 Call In Panel

The non Executive Members of the Overview (Audit) Panel (i.e. the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Overview (Audit) Panel, the Chairs of the Scrutiny Panels, the Chair of Council Business one Front Line Member and two Opposition Members, subject to the political balance rules) shall be responsible for giving consideration to ‘call in’ of decisions outside the budget or policy framework, in accordance with the procedures set out in Part 4(f) of the Constitution.

The Panel will also co-ordinate the scrutiny processes including co-ordination of scrutiny reviews involving more than one Scrutiny Panel.