The
Committee is part of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny
framework that helps to ensure that local public services are
delivered effectively, efficiently and in the best interests of
residents and people that live and work in the Epping Forest
District. Overview and Scrutiny is an
important mechanism through which public accountability can be
exercised and all Councillors (except members of the Cabinet) can
participate in the scrutiny of the Council and its partners. The
primary role of overview and scrutiny is to hold local
decision-makers to account and to help improve local services
by:
(a)
reviewing and challenging decisions taken by the
Council and its partners;
(b)
undertaking investigations into services or policy
areas which are of interest or concern to people in the District;
and
(c)
making evidence-based recommendations to improve
services provided by the Council and partner
organisations;
Overview and Scrutiny has wide-ranging powers to investigate
areas of local interest. Scrutiny activity is not restricted to
services provided by the Council, as any area of interest to the
local community may be investigated by Overview and Scrutiny.
Councillors are also able to refer any local matter relating to
local government, or affecting their ward or constituents, to
Overview and Scrutiny. In this context, Overview and Scrutiny plays
an important role in local democracy as it can help to:
(d)
enhance the accountability of local
services;
(e)
improve the transparency of decision-making;
and
(f)
enable Councillors to represent the views of local
people.