Groups will be meeting regularly again this year at Ealing Council to hear evidence on key subjects ranging from greening the borough to providing new homes – and will put them under scrutiny.
These ‘scrutiny panels’ give you the chance to air your views on important topics and get involved. There are four new panels selected for this year:
Scrutiny panel 1 – Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis: This will scrutinise matters relating to the support being provided to residents to help tackle the cost of living crisis, including local welfare assistance and energy advice.
Scrutiny panel 2 – Recovery from the Pandemic: This will scrutinise matters relating to the economic recovery of the borough from the COVID-19 pandemic including the provision for training support; local jobs; and support for small and local businesses.
Scrutiny panel 3 – Regrow, Rewild and Recycle: This will scrutinise matters relating to greening of the borough including the council’s biodiversity action plan; the borough’s trees; and the reducing, reusing and recycling of waste.
Scrutiny panel 4 – Genuinely Affordable Homes: This will scrutinise matters relating to more genuinely affordable homes in the being provided in the borough, including the council’s work with its partners and the private sector; its readiness in tackling future challenges; the management of housing waiting lists; and the allocation of new properties.
These new panels are in addition to two ongoing panels that sit each year:
Overview and scrutiny committee: This oversees and manages the scrutiny function of the council. It also undertakes scrutiny of core aspects of the council’s operations, such as performance, budget strategy, crime and disorder. It also looks at some policies before these go to the council’s cabinet for decisions.
Health and adult social services: This is responsible for scrutinising health services in the borough and the provision of social services for adults. In particular this year, the panel would like to hear from those people receiving services from adult social care or their carers, and about their experiences.
Get involved
The panels are keen to hear the views of the local community on all the areas that they will be scrutinising over the year. So, if you want to give your views or to be involved in the work of any of the panels then get in touch with the council’s Scrutiny Unit by emailing scrutiny@ealing.gov.uk or calling 020 8825 7497.
More information about scrutiny panels, including meeting dates, work programmes, agendas and reports is available on the council’s website.
