The Centre for Public Scrutiny, the Society of Local Authority
Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace) and The Alliance
for Useful Evidence (supported by Nesta) are today publishing
guidance for local government scrutineers aimed at helping
councils make better, evidence based decisions.
Using evidence in scrutiny: A practice guide for local
government scrutiny sets out the
importance of evidence based decision making in local government
policy, how to understand and use evidence effectively in
scrutiny, and guidance on where to find ‘good’ evidence.
The challenge of working out what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ evidence is
not always straightforward, and this now sits alongside concerns
about ‘fake news’ and a ‘post truth’ narrative in politics. Often
there can be too much information and not enough expertise or
confidence to work out what is good evidence, or how to use it to
inform decision-making.
Given the challenges facing councils over the coming years to
ensure limited resources are targeted effectively, the role of
scrutiny to influence and oversee the decisions will be crucial.
The guidance challenges scrutiny to:
- Ensure its
own recommendations are underpinned by good evidence;
- Holding the
Executive to account for the evidence it uses to make its
decisions; and
- Acting as a
change agent within the authority to promote evidence as the
basis for all council decision making.
Drawing on research and experience from CfPS, Solace and The
Alliance for Useful Evidence, Using evidence in
scrutiny will help bolster scrutiny’s confidence to
provide robust challenge to decisions which are not rooted in
evidence.
Jacqui McKinlay, Chief Executive of CfPS, said on the launch of
the report:
“Good governance and scrutiny has the potential to improve the
places and the lives of local people. Yet too often we see
decisions based on anecdote, poor advice, or committees being
presented with lots of data and not much insight or analysis.
Local scrutiny members and officers have a role ensuring its own
recommendations are well evidenced and being brave to challenge
the executive with robust evidence in the event of a mis-step.”
Abdool Kara, Solace spokesperson for Evidence Based Policy, said:
“Good scrutiny can be a powerful lever for the greater and better
use of evidence by councils to inform their decision-making. In a
time of austerity we need to ensue that every penny is spent in
the most cost-effective way. But we know that some councillors
may not be confident in analysing and interpreting the evidence
put before them. This guide is intended to provide an easy
introduction to the use of evidence to help ensure better
decisions are being made, and scarce resources are being applied
as wisely as our collective knowledge allows.”
Notes to editors
-
Using evidence in scrutiny: A practice guide for local
government scrutiny is published on Wednesday 17 May
and is available here: http://www.cfps.org.uk/using-evidence-scrutiny/.
An embargoed copy of the report is attached to this email.
- · The guide
has been produced in partnership by CfPS, Solace and the Alliance
for Useful Evidence (supported by Nesta).
- · The Centre
for Public Scrutiny’s (CfPS) purpose is to improve lives and
places through effective governance and public scrutiny. We work
with a wide range of organisations, people and places to support
them in developing a culture and ways of working which
incorporate challenge, scrutiny and involvement. We also provide
consultancy, training and policy support which gives people the
skills, knowledge and confidence needed to design and deliver
good governance. More information available at www.cfps.org.uk.
- · The Society
of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace)
represents over 1,200 Chief Executives and senior strategic
managers working in local public services across the UK. We are
committed to promoting public sector excellence. As well as
providing our members with opportunities for personal and
professional development, we also seek to influence debate around
the future of public services to ensure that policy and
legislation are informed by the experience and expertise of our
members. Our portfolio of work on evidence based policy is aimed
at increasing the appetite of the local government sector, both
politically and at officer level, for evidence-informed
decision-making. More information available at http://www.solace.org.uk
- · The Alliance
for Useful Evidence is an independent charity that champions the
use of evidence in social policy and practice. We are an
open-access network of over 3,000 individuals from across
government, universities, third sector organisations, businesses,
and public services both in the UK and internationally. The
Alliance provides a focal point for advancing the evidence
agenda, developing a collective voice, while aiding collaboration
and knowledge sharing, through debate and discussion. Membership
is free. To join visit: www.
alliance4usefulevidence.org/join .
