Holding politicians to account? Overview and scrutiny in English local government

Abstract

Recently, there has been little research published on overview and scrutiny. This article revisits the early literature. By restating and developing six conditions for the effectiveness of overview and scrutiny set out in UK government guidance in 2002, it demonstrates why success has been patchy but that scrutiny can work well when the conditions are met. The system exemplifies the doctrine of the separation of powers, in that the politicians who sit on overview and scrutiny committees are charged with holding to account another group of elected politicians who form the executive or cabinet. The practice of scrutiny could be strengthened if it was embedded as part of a wider process in which the full council holds the executive to account.

Keywords:

• Councils
• councillors
• local government
• overview; scrutiny
• separation of powers

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrew Coulson

Andrew Coulson has taught at the Institute of Local Government Studies, the University of Birmingham, UK, for the past 28 years.

Philip Whiteman

Philip Whiteman is Director of Teaching in the Institute of Local Government Studies, the University of Birmingham, UK.