A Bill to make further provision about the functions, powers and constitution of local authority overview and scrutiny committees; and for connected purposes.
The Bill aims to strengthen and broaden the powers of local government overview and scrutiny committees. It is based on proposals in the 2009 Communities and Local Government Green Paper 'Strengthening Local Democracy'.Key areasgives scrutiny committees powers over a wider range of external bodies than at present (the external bodies will be designated by regulation)provides for these powers to be used in scrutiny of activities carried out by these external bodies that relate to matters of local concern in the provision of public servicesmakes provision for executive council members to be able to sit on scrutiny committees when they are concerned with scrutiny of external bodiesmakes provision to ensure that scrutiny officers are allocated such resources as they believe they require to carry out their role effectively
House of Commons
26 October 2010
This bill would broaden the powers of local councils’ overview and scrutiny committees. It would let them scrutinise a wider range of external bodies involved in local public services, and allow executive councillors to sit on scrutiny committees when their work relates to those bodies. It also requires resources to be provided to scrutiny staff to help them perform their role effectively.
The bill is currently at report stage in the House of Commons. If it passes this stage, it would move to the Lords for consideration and then require Royal Assent to become law.
Generated 21 February 2026
This Bill was presented, through the ballot procedure, to Parliament on 16 December 2009. This is known as First Reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
This Bill had a Second Reading debate on Friday 5 February 2010 and was referred to a Public Bill Committee on 3 March. The Committee reported back to the House on 12 March 2010.
The Bill has since been dropped and will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
