Scrutiny Performance Indicators

1. Short Title:

The percentage of Scrutiny Panel Review Reports' Recommendations that are accepted by the Executive and have been put into practice, as verified by a Follow Up Review and Report.

Rationale:

Scrutiny Panel Reviews form the annual work programme for each Scrutiny Panel. They are scoped and planned by the members of the Scrutiny Panel and undertaken by the Panel, with the assistance of the Scrutiny Support Unit. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of Scrutiny Panel Reviews are contained in formal reports which are presented to Council by the Chair of the respective Panel.

The Executive Member is required to make a formal written response to the report within twenty working days and this response contains a commentary and details whether each recommendation is accepted, when it will be put into action and who is responsible to ensure this happens.

The Scrutiny Panel undertakes a formal Follow Up Review using an updated Executive Response as the basis to ascertain whether the recommendations have actually been implemented and what the outcomes have been. This information is verified by undertaking a short scrutiny exercise. This can be a "light touch" if the Scrutiny Panel feel this is most appropriate.

A Follow Up Report on the outcome of the Review is than published, detailing the outcome of the Review and if need be making further recommendations.

Definition:

The percentage of recommendations relates to the recommendations contained in a Scrutiny Panel Review Report, which is produced by a Scrutiny Panel and presented to Council. The only Scrutiny Panel reports that are presented to Council are those produce following a review.

The Council's Executive is required by Scrutiny Protocol to respond to the Recommendations contained in a review report and indicate whether each recommendation is accepted and whether it will be implemented. If a recommendation requires ongoing repeated action, implementation will be deemed to have occurred when the first action is put into place. The implementation of Review Reports will be monitored by the respective Scrutiny Panel as detailed above. This data to support this performance indicator is collected on an annual basis from May to April each year.

Additional Information:

Recommendations contained in reports of scrutiny reviews need to be objective and based on conclusions reached following consideration of evidence received and conclusions undertaken as part of a review.

2. Short Title:

The percentage of Scrutiny Panel members who feel that Tameside Scrutiny Panels add value to the services that they review, that they can add value as Scrutiny Panel Members and that they are engaged with the scrutiny process.

Rationale:

Scrutiny is a Member-led function supported by dedicated officers in the Scrutiny Support Unit and by a specific budget to facilitate the work of the Scrutiny Panels. This is done by carrying out research and consultation commissioned by the Scrutiny Panels. For the Scrutiny Panels to operate effectively and their members to fully participate in the scrutiny process, they must be engaged and believe that they can make a difference and add value to the services that they review.

Definitions:

Data to be collected following an annual customer survey of all Scrutiny Panel members, this to be undertaken through questionnaires.
The percentage of Scrutiny Panel members means:

• the percentage of Scrutiny Panel members returning questionnaires, who responded ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ when asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements:
  • “I feel that Scrutiny adds value to the services it reviews”
  • “I feel that my contribution as a Scrutiny Panel member helps Scrutiny add value to the services it reviews.”
• the percentage of Scrutiny Panel Members who responded with ‘4’ or ‘5’ when asked:
  • “On a scale of 1 – 5, how involved do you feel you are in Scrutiny?”

 3. Short Title:

The percentage of Scrutiny Panel members (either councillors or co-opted) who attended meetings of Scrutiny Panels.

Rationale:

This performance indicator is intended to measure the attendance of scrutiny members at Scrutiny Panels. Scrutiny is a member lead function and it is vital therefore, that scrutiny members attend Scrutiny Panel meetings.

Definition:

Attendance at a Scrutiny Panel meeting means both scheduled and special meetings of Scrutiny Panels.

Additional Information:

This information is collected at each meeting but will be considered annually.

4. Short Title:

The percentage of people on the Tameside Citizens' Panel who indicate that they have an awareness and understanding of scrutiny in Tameside.

Rationale:

It is important that the citizens of Tameside have an awareness of the scrutiny function as a key area of governance and what is done by the Scrutiny Panels on their behalf. Without an understanding of the innovations and the newer methods of working in local government it is very hard for members of the public to fully engage in the political process.

This indicator looks at local people's perceptions of their knowledge of scrutiny. This can address the impact that the authority's attempts to promote and publicise the scrutiny function are having amongst the population of Tameside.

Definition:

The Tameside Citizens' Panel is a consultation group of some 2000 members from across the Borough. The make up of the Panel changes annually. Each year the members of the Panel are consulted on their knowledge of scrutiny and the work of the Scrutiny Panels.

The number of people who when asked:

"Have you heard of Tameside Scrutiny Panels before receiving this questionnaire?" and "How aware are you of the work of the Tameside Scrutiny Panels?" - Answered fully or partially.

Additional Information:

This survey is undertaken annually using the Tameside Citizens' Panel.