Scrutiny FAQs

• To monitor and support improvement of the Councils’ performance.
• To help the Council to deliver efficient services, which are sensitive to local needs by involving local people.
• To ensure that decision-making is clear, transparent, and accountable.
• To engage service users and the wider community in decision-making.

• Holds decision makers to account.
• Challenges with the aim of improving performance.
• Supports the delivery of value for money.
• Challenges the way things are done.
• Influences decision makers with outcome based impactful recommendations.
• Considers the evidence and views of stakeholders, users, and residents.
• Undertakes pre/post decision scrutiny of Cabinet proposals.

In addition to the above, Scrutiny Committees acknowledge good practice and performance.

There are five Scrutiny Committees in Torfaen County Borough Council:

• Adults & Communities O&S Committee,  
• Children & Families O&S Committee, 
• Economy & Environment O&S Committee 
• Education O&S Committee and 
• Cross Cutting Resources & Business O&S Committee

Committees are politically balanced with nine members, with the exception of the Cross Cutting Resources & Business Committee, where all back bench members (non-executive) are appointed to serve on it. 

The Education O&S Committee also includes five co-opted members representing the Catholic Church, Church of Wales and parent governors.

• All meetings are open to the public (unless confidential matters are being discussed)
• Meetings are hybrid and committee members can attend both in person (at Civic Centre Pontypool) or online via Teams. You can choose to observe the live stream on the council website https://torfaen.public-i.tv/core/portal/home 
• Cycles of meetings are generally held every 6 weeks and usually start at 10am or 2pm. Details are available on the Council's website – www.torfaen.gov.uk
• Members of the public are welcome to pose a question or submit evidence to a scrutiny committee subject to the measures set out in the Public Participation at Scrutiny Protocol. More details can be found here xx…….

Papers are available on the Council's website: https://moderngov.torfaen.gov.uk/mgListCommittees.aspx

Scrutiny provides the opportunity for the public to become involved in the Council's democratic processes. Should you wish to make a request to ask a question at a Scrutiny Committee, please complete the appropriate form which is available here xx/….. 

Alternatively, you can contact the Scrutiny Support Team scrutiny@torfaen.gov.uk  All requests will be considered in accordance with an agreed protocol. If the Committee Chair agrees to consider the matter, you will be advised of the process to be undertaken and the date of the meeting.

Scrutiny Committee meetings are formal meetings of the Council. The Scrutiny Committee can call ‘expert witnesses’, listen to statements and ask questions of those witnesses. Each scrutiny meeting, members of the committee investigate one main item. On conclusion of their investigation, members will make a set of recommendations to the Executive.