Guide for co-opted members of scrutiny panels and working groups

About panels and working groups

• panels and working groups are task and finish groups made up of councillors from different party groups
• there are two types of panel - Performance Panels that monitor and challenge an area of service delivery on an ongoing basis and Inquiry Panels that typically spend six months investigating a topic in-depth
• scrutiny communicates it conclusions and recommendations to Cabinet in two ways; the Committee, performance panels and working groups write public letters; inquiry panels produce reports that are presented to Cabinet
• panels will have a terms of reference setting out what they will focus on and how they will work
• working groups typically only meet once to rapidly scrutinise an issue and write to the Cabinet Member with their conclusions and recommendations
• panels and working groups receive support from a scrutiny officer who arranges meetings, makes notes, drafts reports etc.

Purpose of being invited to be a co-opted member

You have been invited to join the panel / working group because you have expertise, skills or knowledge that the panel does not. This will have been made clear in your invitation to be a co-opted member. You should therefore be prepared to contribute views and opinions based on your own knowledge and experience.

What you can expect

As a co-opted member you should expect to:

• contribute to the work of the panel via email and at meetings
• ask questions to those providing evidence in line with the Panel's terms of reference
• be asked to help draw up conclusions and recommendations
• be clear about how long you are being asked to be involved (scrutiny inquiries, for example, typically take from six to eight months)
• have usual expenses paid for example transport

As a co-opted member you should not:

• be involved in any formal votes
• act as the convener (chair) of the meeting

Good conduct - general

Councillors are bound by a code of conduct to ensure that they behave appropriately and in the public interest. This is included in the Council Constitution.

As a co-opted member of an informal task and finish you are not bound by a formal code of conduct. You should, however, follow standards of good conduct by:

• working for the public interest in your role as a co-opted member
• promoting opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion
• showing respect and consideration for others
• not bullying or harassing any person
• not doing anything that might compromise the impartiality of those who work for the council
• keeping confidential any information given to you that is identified as confidential in nature
• not using your role to gain an advantage for yourself or any other person
• reaching conclusions on the basis of the evidence in front of you
• having regard to any relevant advice provided by council officers
• observing the law and council rules if you claim any expenses
• not being unduly influenced by anyone for example through gifts
• making known any interests you may have either personally, politically or professionally, that might be relevant to your role as co-optee.

Good conduct - scrutiny

The purpose of scrutiny is to make constructive recommendations that are based on factual findings. Scrutiny is not about fostering a blame culture or assigning unfair criticism. To be effective, it must operate in an environment that supports the principles of service improvement.

To assist this approach Scrutiny members should:

• work with due diligence and satisfy themselves that all pertinent issues are covered
• be free from party political discipline
• use the powers of scrutiny properly and behave in a manner that reflects the trust placed in the process by citizens
• make sure that personal agendas or differences in political complexion do not obscure an effective scrutiny process
• refrain from public and personal criticism of other members or officers (scrutiny questioning should not be directed to the conduct of individuals in order to allocate criticism or blame).