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Appendix B
Overview and Scrutiny Chairman – Job Description
Purpose
• To ensure, for the Committee’s area of responsibility, that the Council’s Executive and officers, also the Council’s statutory partners, are properly held to account, in accordance with legislation.
• To ensure that Overview and Scrutiny makes a positive contribution to the development of policy and the continuous improvement of the Council’s operations.
• To provide fair leadership and clear guidance to Members and officers in respect of the overview and scrutiny function.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
· To chair the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee ensuring each committee member and visiting members have the opportunity to contribute.
· To preside over the agenda setting process.
· To maintain an overview of the work programme of the Committee in order to ensure effective co-ordination and progress of all work.
· To develop a clear understanding of the Committee’s terms of reference, the scope and range of services for which it is responsible and Council policies in respect of those services.
· To encourage overview and scrutiny members to develop the necessary skills to contribute effectively to the work of the Committee and to work with officers
· To initiate and develop constructive relationships with the Executive, especially with relevant portfolio holders, senior officers and partners.
· To engage partner agencies in the Committee’s work to promote a constructive approach to overview and scrutiny.
· To attend meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Coordinating Committee
· To contribute to the management and development of the overview and scrutiny function.
· To attend when requested meetings of the Executive when items relevant to the Committee are being considered.
· To liaise and communicate on a regular basis with relevant officers, particularly the Overview and Scrutiny officer team, and specialists to ensure the receipt of appropriate advice to inform effective overview and scrutiny.
· To encourage the involvement of all interested parties and stakeholders, individuals voluntary and community groups in overview and scrutiny matters.
Key Skills and Knowledge
· Good leadership skills.
· Advanced chairing skills.
· Project Management
· Good ambassadorial skills representing and championing the overview and scrutiny function inside and outside the Council.
· Listening skills and questioning skills.
· High standard of communication skills with officers, Councillors, co-optees, partners, external bodies and members of the public.
· Good presentation and public speaking skills.
· Ability to obtain and weigh up evidence and help the Committee to make quality recommendations based on that evidence.