The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is entitled to review and scrutinise the decisions and functions of the Council and the Cabinet. It can produce reports or recommendations on matters affecting the authority's area and residents.
The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2025-2026 is Councillor Claire Winchester and the Vice-Chair is Councillor Jon Clayden.
There are six scheduled meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee each year. Extraordinary meetings of the Committee can be called throughout the year at the request of the Chair and/or lead Officers. The Committee can also conduct scrutiny in other ways, such as Task and Finish Groups, Call to Accounts and written briefing notes.
How to get involved
The overview and scrutiny process is open to involvement by local people, and the Committee encourages and welcomes their participation.
If you would like to speak on a subject please contact the Scrutiny Officer at ScrutinyOfficer@north-herts.gov.uk no later than two working days prior to the meeting.
Scrutiny reviews
As well as its scheduled meetings, the Committee establishes a number of task and finish groups each year to look at topics in more depth. Once a review is complete, a report is prepared which is approved by the Committee and is then sent to the Cabinet or other public sector partners for consideration.
If you would like to know more about the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, please contact the Council’s Scrutiny Officer at ScrutinyOfficer@north-herts.gov.uk.
Work programme
The following is the current version of the Overview & Scrutiny work programme - please note that items are subject to regular review and change.
At each meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the "Work Programme, Decisions & Monitoring Tracking" report will be presented by the Scrutiny Officer.
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| O&S Annual Report 3C’s Information Note Waste Contract |
Cllr Matt Barnes (former Chair of O&S) Cllr Val Bryant Cllr Amy Allen |
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| Annual review of Safeguarding Council Plan 2025-26 Council Delivery Plan & KPIs - Q1 Pay on Exit Parking Town Centre Strategy Museum storage Local government Reorganisation |
Cllr Daniel Allen Cllr Ian Albert Cllr Ian Albert Cllr Donna Wright Cllr Donna Wright Cllr Tamsin Thomas Cllr Laura Williams |
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| 3C’s Half year update Environmental Health Leisure contract Local Plan Review Director Update on Health Equalities Effectiveness of Council Tax Reduction Scheme |
Cllr Val Bryant Cllr Amy Allen Cllr Amy Allen Cllr Donna Wright Cllr Amy Allen Cllr Ian Albert |
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| Council Delivery Plan & KPIs - Q2 Community safety S106 Task and Finish Group Report Crime and Disorder Matters |
Cllr Ian Albert Cllr Mick Debenham Cllr Ralph Muncer (Chair of Task and Finish Group) Hertfordshire Constabulary |
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| Budget Topics Digital Transformation and Inclusion Enterprise portfolio Update |
Cllr Ian Albert Cllr Val Bryant Cllr Tamsin Thomas |
| Items for meeting | Executive / Report Author |
|---|---|
| RIPA (Quarterly) Council Delivery Plan & KPIs - Q3 |
Cllr Daniel Allen Cllr Ian Albert |
Scrutiny charter
The Scrutiny Charter was created as a definition of what Scrutiny is at North Herts Council and was adopted by all members at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 September 2024.
The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny reminds members of the Scrutiny Charter at each meeting, to ensure that the meeting is conducted with independence, initiative and integrity.