‘Stop marking your own homework’ - Lib Dems demand for more accountability in Southwark Council

Last year, the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) undertook a review of Southwark’s scrutiny procedures, making a number of recommendations on how to improve accountability at the Council. The report produced was discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday.

Currently, the chair of the main scrutiny committee is a member of the same majority Labour group, and the opposition are blocked from “calling-in” decisions for extra scrutiny.

Lib Dems recently critcised Labour Councillors who refused to call-in and scrutinise the blatant inadequacies of Southwark Council’s heating network, which has left hundreds of residents without heating or hot water.

At the meeting, Lib Dem member and vice-chair of the committee Cllr Irina von Wiese described this current arrangement as Labour “marking their own homework”.

Lib Dem members of the committee submitted recommendations to improve the scrutiny function in Southwark Council.

This included allowing any 3 members of the council to call-in decisions, not just those sitting on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as well as keeping track of recommendations and making sure these are reviewed by the whole council.

Cllr von Wiese also called for the position of scrutiny chair to an opposition councillor to improve accountability.

The recommendations will be considered by the committee and be voted on a later meeting.

Commenting, vice-chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Cllr Irina von Wiese said:

“Scrutiny in Southwark is ineffective and must be reformed if we are to ensure the council and its decisions are accountable. The review by the CfGS is a great step in the right direction and recognises the work we need to do to improve scrutiny. However, we must keep going further to make sure the council makes the right decision for residents. That is why the Lib Dem group has submitted its own recommendations that will make the decision making process more accountable and stop Labour marking their own homework when it comes to scrutiny.”