Press Release

13 May 2025

Council streamlines scrutiny process

Fareham Borough Council has announced that Members have agreed to dissolve the current Scrutiny Panel structure, in favour of a more focused model.

The eight Scrutiny Panels were replaced by five Advisory Panels, effective from 8 May 2025. These Advisory panels will identify key projects across the Council, shape new initiatives and guide project delivery. They will reduce the overall number of meetings, while enabling Panel Members to contribute more fully to the main priorities of the Council.

The formal Scrutiny function will take place in a separate Overview and Scrutiny Board, meaning that they can continue to meet the legal requirements for scrutinising the decisions by the Executive and have a more consistent approach across service areas.

Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Simon Martin, commented: “We make every effort to ensure the legal requirements of the Council are delivered in the most practical, streamlined and logical way possible. Doing away with the Scrutiny Panels in favour of our new Advisory Panels was an incredibly complex piece if work, but one which I am confident will help councillors deliver results in a more focused and productive way.”

You can find details of this executive decision at: https://moderngov.fareham.gov.uk/documents/s43129/Review%20of%20Scrutiny%20Panel%20Governance%20Structure.pdf

ENDS