Scrutiny

Modelled somewhat on Parliament's ‘Select Committee’ system, ‘Overview & Scrutiny’ in local government acts as a 'check and balance' to the Mayor and other decision makers at the Combined Authority, holding them to account for the policies they adopt, the money they spend and the services they provide.

The process is overseen by independent, politically-balanced groups of elected councillors known as 'overview and scrutiny committees'.

Following a review in 2024, our scrutiny function now consists of a Scrutiny Committee made up of 16 cross-party councillors from across West Yorkshire and York who are 'backbenchers' – that is, councillors who are not members of the main Combined Authority (e.g. council leaders).

The Committee is chaired by Cllr Barry Anderson (Leeds) and consists of 9 Labour members, 4 Conservatives, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Green. 

To view a list of all committee members, terms of reference, agendas, reports and minutes, see the committee's page here.

The Scrutiny Committee investigates, influences, reports and recommends ways to strengthen policies, improve services, ensure best value for money and secure long-lasting positive benefits for local people.

Although the Scrutiny Committee does not have the power to make or block any decisions of the Mayor or Combined Authority, it does have the power to: 

• ‘call-in’ decisions and delay their implementation while they are under review, in order to make a case for them to be formally reconsidered or changed if necessary. 
• conduct reviews, publish reports and submit recommendations to the Combined Authority, which the Combined Authority or Mayor is obliged to respond to publicly within two months.
• require the Mayor, any member and any officer of the Combined Authority to appear before a committee to give evidence.
• request any information held by the Combined Authority including commercially sensitive and private and confidential items.

The Scrutiny Committee is able to question the Mayor of West Yorkshire on her plans, views and performance at any of its meetings.

This municipal year (June 2024 - June 2025), Scrutiny members will have the opportunity to question the Mayor on the following meeting dates/times (which may be subject to change): 

• 20 September 2024: 10.30am - 12.30pm, Committee Room 1, Wellington House, Leeds 
• 22 November 2024: 10.30am - 12.30pm, Committee Room 1, Wellington House, Leeds
• 24 January 2025: 10.30am - 12.30pm, Committee Room 1, Wellington House, Leeds
• 21 March 2025: 10.30am - 12.30pm, Committee Room 1, Wellington House, Leeds
• 2 May 2025: 10.30am - 12.30pm, Committee Room 1, Wellington House, Leeds

All committee meetings are public and open to the public and press to observe in-person or online. 

They are live streamed and uploaded. 

Each year, Scrutiny produces an end of year report summarising all the scrutiny work undertaken over the course of that year and any conclusions and recommendations that were made.

• Scrutiny Annual Report 2018/19
• Scrutiny Annual Report 2019/20
• Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21 
• Scrutiny Annual Report 2021/22
• Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23
• Scrutiny Annual Report 2023/24 (to be published in 2024)

The Scrutiny Committee is keen to hear from members of the public on issues of concern in the West Yorkshire area that relate to the functions and responsibilities of the Combined Authority.

You can contact the committee in the following ways.

By email:         scrutiny@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

In writing:       

Scrutiny Team
Legal, Governance & Compliance
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Wellington House
40-50 Wellington Street
Leeds LS1 2DE

The Combined Authority's Scrutiny Committee seeks to work closely with counterparts at our partner councils.

You can read more about scrutiny at our partner councils on their scrutiny webpages:

• Scrutiny at Bradford
• Scrutiny at Calderdale
• Scrutiny at Kirklees
• Scrutiny at Leeds
• Scrutiny at Wakefield 
• Scrutiny at York