Issue - meetings

To consider the Annual Scrutiny Report 2025/26.

Councillor Ellie Plater Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, moved that the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2025/26 be noted.

In moving the report, Councillor Plater advised that it reflected the significant volume of work undertaken by the three Scrutiny Committees during the 2025/26 municipal year.  She advised that the Committees had conducted a wide range of reviews and investigations, providing detailed scrutiny of Council services and matters affecting local residents.  She stressed that the scrutiny process added value through in-depth examination and constructive challenge, which supported informed decision-making.  The Chair further commented that the report demonstrated the importance placed on scrutiny by Stevenage Borough Council and highlighted the strong cross-party commitment to the scrutiny function.

Councillor Brown in seconding the report confirmed that the scrutiny reviews undertaken during the year by all three committees had covered a wide range of significant and diverse topics, demonstrating the breadth and depth of the scrutiny function in examining issues of importance to the Council and local residents.

The Leader, Councillor Richard Henry acknowledged the crucial work of the Scrutiny Committees supported by the Scrutiny Officer in holding the Cabinet to account across the ambitious work agenda of the Council.  He thanked the current Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees for their work.

It was RESOLVED that the work undertaken by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees during 2025/26, as set out in the report, be noted.