Overview and scrutiny committees for 2022-23 announced
Lewisham Council has confirmed its calendar of overview and scrutiny meetings for the year ahead, as the committees’ new Chairs and Vice Chairs take their seats for the first time.
The overview and scrutiny committees are made up of councillors who do not hold a cabinet position. Their role is to gather evidence to shape the policy decisions of the Council and to hold the Mayor and Cabinet - as well as some external organisations - to account for the decisions they make. They act as a ‘critical friend’ and also work to seek the views and experiences of local residents.
Overview and scrutiny is managed by a number of committees, led by Chairs and Vice-Chairs, who are elected by fellow councillors:
- Overview and Scrutiny (Chair Cllr Mark Ingleby, Vice-Chair Cllr Ese Erheriene)
- Children and Young People Select Committee (Chair Cllr Luke Sorba, Vice-Chair Luke Warner)
- Healthier Communities Select Committee (Chair Cllr Chris Best, Vice-Chair Cllr Aliya Sheikh)
- Housing Select Committee (Chair Cllr Stephen Penfold, Vice-Chair Cllr Will Cooper)
- Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee (Chair Cllr Ayesha Lahai-Taylor, Vice-Chair Cllr Liam Shrivastava)
- Sustainable Development Select Committee (Chair Cllr James Royston, Vice-Chair Cllr Edison Huynh)
- Public Accounts Select Committee (Chair Cllr James Rathbone, Vice-Chair Cllr Rudi Schmidt)
Cllr Mark Ingleby, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, said: “Overview and Scrutiny plays a vital role in holding the Council to account by scrutinising the Cabinet’s decisions in public, discussing important local issues and gathering evidence to inform effective decision making by the Mayor and Cabinet.
“I’m looking forward to working with the committees as they set their priorities and work programmes for the year ahead, and I’d urge local people to find out more about what we do and get involved, by coming along in person to a meeting at the Civic Suite or watching our meetings online. By working together we can make a real difference and give people reassurance that the best decisions are made for our borough.”
Visit the Council’s website to find out more about the role of Overview and Scrutiny, find out the committees’ meeting dates and read their agendas, and watch meetings live or whenever suits you.