Audit Commission praises way Islington

11.44.14am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Jul 2004

The independent Audit Commission has praised Islington for the way backbench councillors hold the Council's ruling Executive to account.

Islington was particularly lauded for being a model of good practice in the way Executive decisions are 'called-in' for further scrutiny, its good progress with health scrutiny and the way in which the recommendations of the scrutiny committees have been actioned by the Council's Executive.

The report, published in March, stated: "Our overall conclusion is that the Council's arrangements for undertaking Scrutiny are sound. It has been able to deliver successfully a range of scrutiny reviews whose results have had a positive impact on the performance of council services."

The Audit Commission also highlighted:

the commitment of each Scrutiny Committee to undertake three reviews each year. the changes to Council policy as a result of reviews by Overview and the Scrutiny Committees. the way the Scrutiny Committees and Overview select topics that fit in with the Council's overall strategic objectives and priorities identified by the Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA). the extensive and wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders and experts. the sound procedures for backbench councillors to 'call in' Executive decisions before they are implemented and the ability to question Executive Members at Review Committee meetings

The Audit Commission comments were revealed in a report discussed at Council on Tuesday night. The recommendation to endorse the work of the Overview and Review Committees was agreed by the Council.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Ed Featherstone, the outgoing Chair of the Overview Committee, said:

"The Audit Commission has been very complimentary about Islington's arrangements for holding the Executive to account, the involvement of backbench councillors and how issues affecting the whole borough are looked at in more detail.

"We are getting scrutiny right according to the government. All the Executive Members and backbench councillors now see the advantage of well-planned and well-conducted scrutiny.

"But we will not be resting on our laurels. The challenge now is to make sure all backbench councillors feel fully involved in scrutiny and that the public and the press get more involved too."

Futher Information

Islington Council switched to an Executive/Scrutiny system in May 2002 following requirements from the government to modernise local democratic arrangements. There are currently three review (scrutiny) committees in Islington Council – regeneration, performance and sustainability. These match the Council's three corporate strategic priorities. The scrutiny reviews which have been carried out in the past year are: Creating a Thriving Economy; Managing the Impact of Major Construction Development; Post Office Closures; Coping with a Stroke in the Community; Extended Schools for the Community; Supporting New Tenants; Local Agenda 21; Mobile Phone Masts; Recycling; and Road Safety at Designated Crossings. The scrutiny reviews carried out in 2002/2003 were: Greening the Council's Transport Fleet; Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers; Home Ownership; and Education Capital Projects. Their recommendations have all been approved and have either already been or are being actioned by the Executive and Council.