Changes give councillors more opportunities to review and challenge services

Plans which aim to give councillors more opportunities to get closer to changes being explored at Shropshire Council were agreed this week.

The Performance Management Scrutiny Committee, on Wednesday 4 December 2013, discussed and approved a new way of scrutinising services, including the setting up of Rapid Action Groups of councillors.

The groups will be able to get involved in how the council is changing, focusing on a chosen topic or area. They will be able to see first-hand how services are being redesigned and talk to frontline staff and customers, to better understand and contribute to the work.

The Leader of Shropshire Council, Councillor Keith Barrow, said:

“This is about scrutiny moving with the times.

“By rigidly focusing on meetings and documents, we have been putting a distance between us and what is happening on the ground, and making our challenges at a late stage.

“However, today’s decision means councillors – whether they sit on a scrutiny committee or not – can really get involved and be part of changes as they are taking place.

“This provides more options for looking at the quality and performance of services and questioning what’s happening from the beginning.

“We can be more open and constructive, giving the public a better insight, by sharing with them our work, what we find, and any alternatives we suggest.”

Clive Wright, Shropshire Council Chief Executive, said:

“The council is radically changing the way it works; we have to make better use of the money, resources and expertise available, to meet our customers’ needs.

“It is critical that we involve elected members as we make these changes; they need to be at the forefront as our business plan develops.

“I look forward to working with the Rapid Action Groups and all members in continuing to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs and the challenges we face in the best way possible.”

Councillor Martin Bennett, chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee, added:

“This new approach allows us to be more proactive in reviewing, challenging, calling the council to account and bringing forward ideas.

“We will be at the heart of council activities, and while there will still be meetings, to report back, we will not be constrained by bureaucracy.”