Overview and Scrutiny
Overview and Scrutiny has the power to look at issues that affect people in the borough. The council cannot review every issue in a single year, so we focus on what matters most to local people, where we can make a difference, and where we can help bring clear results.
Better scrutiny means better services for local people
Every council must have a scrutiny function. This allows backbench or opposition councillors who are not part of the main decision-making team to check the work of council leaders, suggest improvements to services and help shape council policies.
Scrutiny can take place in formal meetings or informal working groups. It can also include surveys, focus groups and panels made up of local residents.
Many useful ideas come from these more informal sessions.
Scrutiny of Grenfell matters
Lessons from the Grenfell tragedy are at the heart of the Council Plan and our vision for a Greener, Safer, Fairer borough. These lessons are also a key part of our scrutiny work.
Grenfell matters are reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and by four select committees. Each committee focuses on specific areas. For example the Housing and Communities Select Committee looks at housing, and the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee looks at health and wellbeing.
By involving five committees instead of one, we can look at more issues in greater depth and learn more from what happened.
How scrutiny works
At formal scrutiny meetings, councillors hear from senior council staff, experts on the topic and residents with lived experience.
Sometimes working groups issue a ‘call for evidence’. This gives local people a chance to share ideas or comments, speak at meetings and send in written feedback or short videos
Residents can also volunteer to join working groups.
Scrutiny reviews are planned and shared in advance, so people have time to get involved. Councillors may also attend local meetings to listen to residents and bring their views back to the committee.
We will publish the results of reviews and show what has changed. This helps people see how their input makes a difference.
If you have any questions, email the Scrutiny Team at [email protected]. You can also read meeting papers and agendas on the council committee pages.
Annual Scrutiny Report
Each year, the scrutiny and select committees write an annual report. It looks back at what they did and outlines plans for the future.
The 2023 to 2024 report is available below.
What the Overview and Scrutiny Committee does
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for:
- leading scrutiny of Grenfell-related matters
- reviewing the design and delivery of future Grenfell support for survivors, the bereaved and the local community
- checking progress on the Council Plan Action Plan and corporate performance
- reviewing the council’s budget
- looking at crime and disorder (a legal duty)
- reviewing the Annual Scrutiny Work Programme
- checking how well scrutiny is working and its impact
The committee reviews these topics throughout the year. It does this by discussing reports in formal meetings, holding single-topic meetings for in-depth reviews, setting up working groups and gathering evidence from residents and experts.
Current priorities for 2025 to 2026
Priorities for the municipal year 2025 to 2026 are:
Grenfell
- checking progress on council commitments following the Public Inquiry Report
- reviewing the Grenfell Support Programme
Finance, budgets and performance
- reviewing the Council Plan Action Plan and Performance dashboard
- reviewing Transformation and Savings plans
- quarterly revenue and capital monitoring reports on council spending
- budget proposals for 2026 to 2027 services within the Committee's terms of reference
- Annual Complaints Report and the Ombudsman’s letter
Corporate projects and policies
- Oracle closure report
- Maxilla
- Notting Dale Heat Network
- Social Investment Annual Report
Budget scrutiny
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee leads on budget scrutiny through a Budget Working Group and select committee meetings each autumn.
Strong budget scrutiny helps make sure the council’s budget is clear and sustainable. The committee reviews the findings and recommendations in a report. This is shared with the Leadership Team for a formal response.
The Budget Working Group Report for the 2024 to 2025 budget is available below.
Contact us
What issues should we look at?
Scrutiny looks at issues that matter most to our residents. You can help shape what the committees review. Scrutiny councillors want to hear your ideas, especially on broad themes or policies that affect local people.
Send your suggestions to:
- email: [email protected]
- post:
Scrutiny Manager
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington Town Hall
Hornton Street
London
W8 7NX