The scrutiny work of councillors has been given the thumbs-up in a new survey. A study of local authorities by advisory body, the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS), discovered the amount and quality of scrutiny work undertaken by local authorities suggested the function was being used fully to hold decision-makers to account and influence service performance.

CfPS executive director, Dr Jane Martin, said: ‘Scrutiny has developed immensely over the last year. ‘This view is held not just by scrutiny councillors themselves, but also their executive colleagues, who are increasingly acknowledging the need for independent and well-resourced scrutiny.'