One of the council’s key functions is “Overview and Scrutiny” (O&S), an essential yet often overlooked aspect of local governance. Many residents may not be familiar with O&S or understand its role, but it plays a vital part in ensuring effective decision-making and accountability within the council.
Wokingham operates under a “strong leader” model, where the Leader of the Council, currently Cllr Stephen Conway, appoints an executive or cabinet of councillors to set the direction and make key decisions. To maintain balance and ensure these decisions are robust, O&S acts as a “critical friend.” Its role is to hold the Leader and Executive to account, review their decisions and plans, monitor performance, examine budget proposals, and contribute to shaping future policies.
A recent example of O&S in action took place during the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee meeting on 14th January. This committee comprises the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the individual O&S committees, providing a coordinated approach to oversight.
At the meeting, the committee scrutinized the “next steps” for a significant project exploring the need for a new council headquarters (HQ). This large-scale initiative aims to ensure the council secures the right facilities at the best cost and in the most effective locations to serve residents. During the discussion, the committee identified several “unknowns” linked to the government’s potential plans for reorganizing local government. Berkshire has already experienced major changes when Berkshire County Council was dissolved, and while further reorganization may be some time away, it raises critical questions about the timing and scope of the project.
The committee’s advice to the Executive and Leader was to await further clarity on these governmental plans before proceeding. However, this doesn’t mean progress must halt entirely. The committee recommended continuing feasibility work, including evaluating surplus council-owned assets that could be sold to strengthen council finances. Additionally, this interim work allows the council to explore adopting a “hub and spoke” model to bring more services directly into local communities.
The current council building at Shute End has reached the end of its usable life, requiring significant repairs and upgrades to remain fit for purpose. The O&S committee emphasized the importance of ensuring council buildings are functional, efficient, and welcoming for both staff and residents. In the discussion we agreed that not rushing forward into costly decisions with the possibility that future changes in Berkshire’s local government structure could render new investments redundant within a few years. This “delay” while we wait for clarity on local government reorganisation means that we have further recommended that the executive also consider retaining Leasehold and Freehold options in case those options come up. We also agreed with the view while we shouldn’t rush forward, we do need to spend some funds over the coming years on maintenance and energy efficiency
I chaired the meeting, and I have been invited by the Leader of the Council to attend the Executive meeting on the 30th Jan to present and discuss our recommendations – this is how scrutiny should work. A “critical friend” whose opinions are listed to and valued.
In short, O&S ensures that decisions are thoroughly examined and aligned with long-term goals, safeguarding public resources and improving outcomes for the community. This example highlights how O&S can positively influence council policies and promote well-informed, balanced decision-making.
By Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker
