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To determine whether to request Council to review or scrutinise any decision called in, where considered contrary to the budget and policy framework and whether to recommend that the decision be reconsidered.

To receive and consider requests from the Executive for scrutiny involvement in the annual budget process.

The role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the development of the Council’s budget and policy framework is set out in detail in the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (see Part D Section xxx of the Constitution). A summary is set out below:

Assist the Council and the Executive in the development of its budget and policy framework by in depth analysis of policy issues.

In relation to the development of the Council’s approach to other matters not forming part of its policy and budget framework, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may make proposals to the Mayor or Executive for developments in so far as they relate to matters within its terms of reference.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will report to Council, Cabinet or the Mayor or appropriate Cabinet Member and make recommendations as appropriate. All reports from Scrutiny Sub-Committees will be agreed by the relevant sub-committee and the Chair of that Committee will provide an update at the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. If the report cannot be agreed by the Sub-Committee, or if there are not any meetings of Sub-Committee, and in other exceptional circumstances, the report can be agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Once it has formed recommendations on proposals for development, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will prepare a formal report and submit it to the Executive Mayor and relevant Cabinet Member and Senior Officers for consideration and a formal response (if the proposals are consistent with the existing budgetary and policy framework) or to Council as appropriate (e.g. if the recommendation would require a departure from or a change to the agreed budget and policy framework).

For the avoidance of doubt, the Mayor or Executive shall not alter or amend any Overview and Scrutiny Committee report before referring it to Council, but shall only make additional comments or recommendations (including any corporate, financial or legal implications) as may be appropriate. However, if Council does not agree with the Mayor’s or Executive’s recommendations, the disputes resolution procedure in Rule 2 of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (see Part D Section xxx of the Constitution) will apply.

If the contents of the report would not have implications for the Council’s budget and policy framework, and is thus not referred to Council by the Monitoring Officer, the Mayor or Executive will have two weeks in which to consider the matter and respond to the overview and scrutiny report.

The request for a call-in must give reasons in writing and outline an alternative course of action. In particular, the request must state whether or not those Members believe that the decision is outside the policy or budget framework.