The Select 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
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.