OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE UNDER SCRUTINY
Lambeth council’s overview and scrutiny committee has found itself under scrutiny.
The council’s full meeting on Wednesday night heard there was a common view that the committee were just “rubber stamping” what the administration had recently agreed to.
Not one item referred to the overview and scrutiny committee had been referred back – and in two years time that would still be the case, added Cllr Bernard Gentry (Con. Clapham Common).
“People are beginning to lose faith in the process.”
Referring to a debate on parks and open spaces he said they had been told staff would be more flexible. But that was not the case. There were no parks staff at evenings or weekends.
“Action has been taken and things have improved. “But there needs to be some sort of process that officers can look back and ensure what they were told was correct.”
Overview and scrutiny committee chairman Cllr Ed Davie said he would certainly dispute calling it “rubber stamping.”
“Councillors of all parties including several Labour councillors have called in decisions – including myself.
“While no decision had been referred back, no decision has gone without the committee making comments and seeking changes.
“We’d be more than happy to revisit your concerns about parks. “There’s not enough pre-decision going on and we’ll be working very hard to correct that.”