PART 1A

Arrangements with respect to local authority governance in England
CHAPTER 2

Executive arrangements

Overview and scrutiny committees

Overview and scrutiny committees: supplementary provision
9FA
1
An overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority—
a
may appoint one or more sub-committees, and
b
may arrange for the discharge of any of its functions by any such sub-committee.
2
A sub-committee of an overview and scrutiny committee may not discharge any functions other than those conferred on it under subsection (1)(b).
3
An overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority, or a sub-committee of such a committee, may not include any member of the authority's executive.
4
An overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority, or any sub-committee of such a committee, may include persons who are not members of the authority.
5
Subject to any provision made by or under paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule A1 and to section 20(6) of the Police and Justice Act 2006, any persons who are not members of the local authority are not entitled to vote at any meeting of its overview and scrutiny committee, or any sub-committee of such a committee, on any question which falls to be decided at that meeting, unless permitted to do so under paragraphs 11 and 12 of that Schedule.
6
An overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority, or a sub-committee of such a committee, is to be treated—
a
as a committee or sub-committee of a principal council for the purposes of Part 5A of the Local Government Act 1972 (access to meetings and documents of certain authorities, committees and sub-committees), and
b
as a body to which section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (duty to allocate seats to political groups) applies.
7
Subsections (2) and (5) of section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 apply to an overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority, or a sub-committee of such a committee, as they apply to a committee appointed under that section.
8
An overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority or a sub-committee of such a committee—
a
may require members of the executive, and officers of the authority, to attend before it to answer questions,
b
may require any other member of the authority to attend before it to answer questions relating to any function which is exercisable by the member by virtue of section 236 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (exercise of functions by local councillors in England), and
c
may invite other persons to attend meetings of the committee.
9
It is the duty of any member or officer mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (8) to comply with any requirement mentioned in that paragraph.
10
A person is not obliged by subsection (9) to answer any question which the person would be entitled to refuse to answer in or for the purposes of proceedings in a court in England and Wales.
11
In exercising, or deciding whether to exercise, any of its functions an overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority, or a sub-committee of such a committee, must have regard to any guidance for the time being issued by the Secretary of State.
12
Guidance under subsection (11) may make different provision for different cases or for different descriptions of committee or sub-committee.
S. 9FA applied (with modifications) by 2006 c. 41, s. 247(3A) (as inserted (4.5.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 77(4); S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b))
Pt. 1A modified (1.4.2013) by The Isles of Scilly (Functions) (Review and Scrutiny) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/643), arts. 1(1), 2
Pt. 1A modified by S.I. 2008/2113, reg. 10 (as substituted (5.9.2018) by The Local Government (Structural Changes) (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/930), regs. 1, 3(3))
Pt. 1A modified (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 12(5)-(8)
Pt. 1A modified (26.11.2018) by The Local Government (Boundary Changes) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1128), regs. 1(1), 15 (with reg. 1(2)(3))
Pt. 1A modified in part (23.5.2019) by The Buckinghamshire (Structural Changes) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/957), arts. 1, 6(17)
S. 9FA applied (with modifications) by 2006 c. 41, s. 247A(3)(c)(4) (as inserted (4.5.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 3 para. 78; S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b))
Pt. 1A modified (26.5.2018) by The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/648), arts. 1, 27(8)
Pt. 1A modified in part (25.5.2018) by The West Suffolk (Local Government Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/639), arts. 1, 8(7)
Pt. 1A modified in part (25.5.2018) by The East Suffolk (Local Government Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/640), arts. 1, 8(7)
Pt. 1A modified in part (26.5.2018) by The Somerset West and Taunton (Local Government Changes) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/649), arts. 1, 8(7)
Pt. 1A inserted (3.12.2011 for specified purposes, 15.1.2012 for the insertion of Pt. 1A Ch. 4 so far as not already in force and ss. 9B, 9C and 9R for specified purposes, 9.3.2012 for the insertion of ss. 9H-9HE in so far as not already in force and s. 9R for specified purposes, 4.5.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), s. 240(2), Sch. 2 para. 1; S.I. 2011/2896, art. 2(e); S.I. 2012/57, art. 4(1)(b) (with arts. 6, 7, 9-11); S.I. 2012/628, art. 2(a); S.I. 2012/1008, art. 4(b)
S. 9FA(1)-(12) applied (with modifications) (1.4.2013) by The Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/218), regs. 1(2), 30(2)
Pt. 1A modified in part (14.2.2020) by S.I. 2020/156, art. 7 (as substituted (8.5.2020) by The Local Government (Coronavirus) (Structural Changes) (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/426), regs. 1(2), 12)
Pt. 1A modified in part (18.3.2022) by The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/331), arts. 1(1), 7(2)