Residents are invited to participate in West Berkshire Council's Scrutiny Commission

Residents are invited to participate in West Berkshire Council's Scrutiny Commission  by submitting questions for upcoming meetings.

A special meeting has been arranged for 6.30pm on 11 October to review the activities of Thames Water and the Environment Agency. Residents can submit questions or raise concerns by emailing them to Executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk by 18 September. The meeting will be streamed live on the Council's YouTube channel for residents wanting to follow the meeting as it happens or at their convenience later.

The Scrutiny Commission is committed to upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and community interest in the Council's decision-making processes and holding the Council accountable. 

As part of the Liberal Democrat administration's commitment to openness following the May elections, the Chair of the Scrutiny Commission has been offered to an opposition party Member and Councillor Carolyne Culver (Green Party), has assumed the role, while Dominic Boeck (Conservative Party), has taken on the role of Vice Chair.

Councillor Carolyne Culver said:

"Scrutiny is crucial to the democratic process, allowing residents and opposition and backbench councillors to explore the detail of Council decisions and challenge anything of concern. In an 'executive-led' Council like West Berkshire where power is centralised, the role of the Scrutiny Commission is essential. My fellow Commission members and I look forward to receiving residents' questions for our meetings this autumn."

Future meetings will be held as follows and agendas will be available a week in advance:

• Health Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 12th September, 2023 1.30 pm
• Scrutiny Commission - Thursday, 14th September, 2023 6.30 pm
• Special, Scrutiny Commission - Wednesday, 11th October, 2023 6.30 pm

Scrutiny at West Berkshire Council

The Scrutiny Commission encourages residents to participate by suggesting topics of interest through a user-friendly form available online, emphasising the importance of community input in shaping the Council's decisions.

The Health Scrutiny Committee, Chaired by Councillor Martha Vickers (Lib Dem Party), plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of residents by considering their needs and experiences in the planning and operation of health services, and responding to formal consultations on health matters. It also scrutinises public health services provided by the Council and commissioned providers. This Committee reports into the Scrutiny Commission but remains largely independent from the parent committee by setting its own agendas. Both meetings are public and residents are very welcome to attend to watch the meeting in person or via YouTube.

Over the past year, the Scrutiny Commission has examined various issues, including the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report on a homelessness application, the Deadman's Lane Active Travel Scheme, and the Sports Hub's revised costs and development agreement, among others. The Health Scrutiny Committee has explored topics such as access to primary care, dementia diagnosis, and NHS dentistry.

This collaborative approach ensures that local decisions are well-informed and reflective of the community's needs and priorities. You can find out more information on our website Reviewing Council Decisions and Performance