Overview and Scrutiny

Overview and scrutiny committees examine a range of topics to ensure council decisions and actions are held to account. 

There are five overview and scrutiny committees aligned to the council’s service areas.  

Overview and scrutiny committees cannot make decisions, but they can make recommendations.   

The committees sit between September and May. 

They decide on their work programme each summer, during a period known as visioning.  

Items are chosen based on suggestions put forward by councillors, members of the public and strategic directors, and the council’s executive forward plan and annual delivery plan.   

Decisions about what items are selected are based on several considerations, including whether the issue has been scrutinised previously or whether scrutiny can make a positive difference. 

This year’s work programmes are: 

• Cross Cutting & Resources Business
• Adult & Communities
• Children & Families
• Economy & Environment
• Education

The overview and scrutiny process is open to the public. 

There are several ways you can get involved: 

• Suggest a topic for scrutiny
• Give evidence to an overview and scrutiny committee meeting
• Read and comment on overview and scrutiny committee reports
• Watch scrutiny committee meetings 

You can submit an idea by clicking below, or by visiting the Get Involved Torfaen democracy hub where you can also comment on other people’s suggestions and ask questions. 

Suggest an item for scrutiny

Find out when overview and scrutiny committee meetings are held.

Watch our Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings live or later. 

Read the latest Annual Scrutiny Report.