Policy and Scrutiny Committees

Policy and Scrutiny Committees

Westminster City Council has five Policy & Scrutiny Committees, overseen by the Westminster Scrutiny Commission.

These Committees scrutinise the work of the Cabinet, individual Cabinet Members and the Council as a whole and assist the Council and the Cabinet in policy making and monitoring performance. They can also establish task groups to look at certain issues in more detail.

They meet regularly, often inviting a range of experts or "witnesses" to their meetings to assist in their scrutinies. The Committees are composed of elected members of the Council (Councillors), but not including Cabinet Members. The Children and Young People P&S Committee also has six co-opted members (two parent governors, two diocesan board representatives and two headteachers).

Policy and Scrutiny is one of the most important ways in which Councillors outside the Cabinet can influence Council policy and “champion” their constituents. Policy & Scrutiny is not limited to monitoring services provided by the Council; it can be applied to any agency whose activities affect local people including, for example, the police and parts of the NHS.