Standards for Service Delivery

1. The Scrutiny Support Unit supports, facilitates and enables the members of the Tameside's Scrutiny Panels to undertake the requirements of Section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 and Section 7 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001.
   
   
2. In preparation for, and during the course of a Scrutiny Panel review, the Scrutiny Support Unit will ensure that Panel members are fully briefed and informed to enable them to carry out their role. This will be achieved by providing the following:-

a) Work Programmes for Scrutiny Panels will be approved by Panel members.

The Scrutiny Support Unit will support and assist members of Scrutiny Panels to identify items for inclusion on the work programmes for the Panels following extensive consultation. Items will be drawn from the Residents' Opinion Survey Best Value Performance Indicators and Reviews, Policy Reviews, suggestions from the public, etc.

b) Chairs and Deputies will be fully briefed and consulted on the agendas for Scrutiny Panel meetings.

Chair's briefings will take place on a day and at a time to suit the respective Chair and Deputy Chair.

c) Agendas and briefing papers will be sent to Scrutiny Panel members at least five working days prior to the Panel meeting.

Agendas, minutes, consultation material and briefings will where ever possible, be sent to Panel members in the messenger satchel delivery system within five working days of the Scrutiny panel meeting.

d) Agendas and Minutes of Scrutiny Panel meetings will be placed on the Scrutiny web site.

Agendas with accompanying public documents such as minutes of the previous meeting will be place on the scrutiny web site three working days before the meeting of the respective Scrutiny Panel.

e) The designated Scrutiny Support Officer will prepare a brief for Panel members which will be sent to them five days in advance of the Panel meeting. The brief will explain the background of the subject to be dealt with at the meeting and any other relevant information.

All briefing papers and presentations will be free from jargon and acronyms and will be presented in as interesting and informative format as possible.

f) The designated Scrutiny Support Officer will give an oral presentation of approximately 45 minutes duration immediately prior to the Scrutiny Panel meeting.

The power point presentation will be interesting and informative and contain the very latest information for members of Scrutiny Panels, including issues to be especially considered.

g) The Scrutiny Support Unit will assist the Scrutiny Panels in identifying the "scope" of scrutiny reviews.

"Scoping" sessions will take place at Scrutiny Panel meetings according to the template and in the format agreed by Scrutiny Panels.

The designated Scrutiny Support Officer will provide background information in the form of briefing papers and oral presentation to assist members of Scrutiny Panels in the "scoping" exercise.

h) The Scrutiny Support Unit will carry out the research identified and agreed by the Scrutiny Panels.

As often as possible Scrutiny Panel members will carry out some aspects of this research, including site visits, consultation and informal meetings.

The Scrutiny Support Unit will link research and consultation to efficiency and value for money.

i) Scrutiny Panel reports will be initially drafted by the Scrutiny Support Unit based on the information received during the course of the review. The draft report will not contain conclusions or recommendations, which will be agreed for inclusion in the report by the members of the Scrutiny Panel.

Scrutiny Panel members will receive draft reports at least five working days prior to panel meetings, at which the conclusions and recommendations are identified and approved.

Scrutiny Panel members will receive the final version of reports for approval.