The Overview
and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) is a vital part of the Mayoral
Combined Authority’s (MCA) decision-making
process.
The Committee
hold the MCA to account and ensure that all aspects of the
decision-making process are transparent, inclusive and fair. The Committee are responsible for checking
that the MCA is delivering its objectives and that the decisions
made in policies, strategies and plans have been made in the best
interests of the residents and workers of South
Yorkshire.
Overview and
Scrutiny Committee meetings are open to the public and are
webcast.
Members of the public can submit a question to the committee in
advance of the meeting.
Referral of matters to the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee
Any member of
one of the Constituent Councils may refer an issue or question to
the MCA’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Elected
Members are asked to contact SYMCAMeetings@southyorkshire-ca.gov.ukwith
any request for referring an issue to the Overview & Scrutiny
Committee.
We have an archive of papers
for this committee for meetings which took place before 31 March
2019, please click on the Archive link in the
navigation menu.
Call-In Procedure
1.
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Introduction
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1.1
1.2
1.3
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Pursuant to statute and the MCA
Constitution, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee has power to
review or scrutinise decisions made in
connection with the discharge of any functions which are the
responsibilities of the Mayor or the Authority;
In particular, the Overview &
Scrutiny Committee has power to review or scrutinise a decision which has been made but not
yet implemented, and to direct that a decision is not to be
implemented while it is under review or scrutiny by the Scrutiny
Committee or to recommend that the decision be
reconsidered.
“Call-in” is the term used
for this practice of immediate post-decision scrutiny.
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1.4
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The statutory requirement for call-in is
contained in Schedule 5A Local Democracy, Economic Development and
Construction Act 2009 and allows Elected Members to call in a
decision made by the Mayoral Combined Authority that has yet to be
implemented.
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1.5
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The Overview and Scrutiny Committee
cannot change the decision; however, it can refer the matter back
to the decision maker to ask for the decision to be reviewed or
consider an alternative course of action.
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2.
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The Call-In Process
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2.1
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Mayoral Combined Authority decisions are
published on the SYMCA website within 3 clear working days of the
meeting being held or decision taken.
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2.2
2.3
2.4
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Five members of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee, to include at least one member from two different
Constituent Councils, may call-in a decision eligible for call-in
by written request to the Scrutiny Officer. The Scrutiny Officer
will inform the people listed below:
a. The Overview & Scrutiny
Committee
b. Chair and Portfolio Lead of the
Mayoral Combined Authority
c. Statutory Officers of the Mayoral
Combined Authority
Any request to call-in a decision must be
made within 5 working days of the decision being published on the
SYMCA website.
A meeting of the Committee must be
convened within 10 working days of the decision to call-in.
In the event that it is not possible to
convene a quorate scrutiny meeting within this period such a
meeting must instead be convened as soon as practicable to consider
the call in.
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2.5
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The following categories of decisions are
not eligible for call-in:
a.
if it has already been
considered by the Scrutiny Committee, and where recommendations
have been accepted by the decision-maker either in whole or without
significant addition or modification.
b.
a decision that the
decision-taker has certified urgent (giving reasons) in accordance
with the Authority’s Constitution,
c.
a decision relating to
a matter which has already been the subject of a call-in during the
previous six months;
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2.6
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At the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, a spokesperson for the
Call-In signatories will explain the reason for call-in and present
any appropriate documents.
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2.7
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The Chief Executive or their nominee will
attend the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to give the Mayoral
Combined Authority’s viewpoint and answer any questions from
Overview & Scrutiny Committee
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2.8
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After
debate, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has two
options:
·
To offer no
recommendations, in which case the decision may be implemented
immediately; or
·
To make
recommendations back to the Mayoral Combined Authority with a
request that the decision be reconsidered (with
reasons).
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2.9
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If the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee makes recommendations, the Mayoral
Combined Authority must then hold a meeting to reconsider the
decision within 10 working days.
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2.10
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The Chair
of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may attend the Mayoral
Combined Authority board meeting to present the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee’s findings.
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2.11
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The Mayoral Combined Authority can still
decide to go ahead with implementing the decision, but a reason for
this must be published if it goes against the Overview &
Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation(s).
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