The scrutiny function should play an important role in helping a council to achieve best value. And where power is controlled by a relatively small number of members on an executive, this function should help ensure that an administration is accountable for the way it exercises its stewardship.

Unfortunately, in many councils, the scrutiny function is not playing its part well enough. However, the 10 Ps can help focus attention on how the scrutiny function can be made more effective. The first five Ps focus on what scrutiny should look at. These are projects, programmes, plans, performance and partnerships. Projects are the means by which all change initiatives take place, whether that is a capital project or an improvement project.