The independence of scrutiny committees and audit committees - Find a freedom of information request

The independence of scrutiny committees and audit committees has been identified in a number of Public Interest Reports as being an important factor in facilitating meaningful scrutiny and challenge within local authorities.

If your local authority doesn't not have an overview and scrutiny system please answer the following in relation to the committee within your councils which has audit responsibilities.

If your local authority has an overview and scrutiny system please note that as audit committees are not formally treated as part of scrutiny it may be that they are treated differently in the council's constitution and policies.

Please confirm whether you are responding to this request in relation to scrutiny committees and/or audit committees.

1.If your local authority has an overview and scrutiny committee system, please confirm how many committees (excluding audit) are part of that system? Policy on Selection & Appointment of Committee Chairs:

2. Please provide the council's current policy on selection and appointment of scrutiny committee chairs and audit committee chairs.

Please either copy and paste the section of council policy relating to the selection of scrutiny and audit committee chairs or provide a link and details of the section/sub-section within the document where we can locate this information.

Current Political Configuration of Committee Chairs/Conveners:

3.Please provide a figure showing what percentage of current scrutiny and audit committee chairs (or conveners) are members of an opposition party to the main controlling party or controlling coalition.

This request has been responded to in the context of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee system.

1.The Council appoints the following Overview and Scrutiny Committees as part of Part 2 Article 6.1 of the Constitution: (page 31)

* Adults and Community Wellbeing

* Children and Young People

* Environment and Economy

* Flood and Water Management

* Health Scrutiny for Lincolnshire

* Highways and Transport

* Overview and Scrutiny Management

* Public Protection and Communities The Council supports two standing Scrutiny Panels (Scrutiny Panel A and Scrutiny Panel B) whose role it is to conduct in-depth scrutiny reviews on behalf of Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Corporate Parenting Panel is appointed to complement the activities of the scrutiny committees, however, it is not a Committee of the Council.

Audit is supported by Lincolnshire County Council as a Regulatory Committee.

Link : Part 2 - Article 6.1 of the constitution

2. Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs are Members of the Council, and are appointed by Council at the Full Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) 'excluding the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire … who will be appointed by the Committee' (Constitution, September 2023: Part 2, Article 4.2 Section E: pg. 26)

Audit Similarly, The Chair and Vice Chair are Members of the Council and are appointed by Council at the Full Council AGM.

Link: The Constitution Part 2: Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution

3. 0%: Scrutiny and Audit