Member

This brings us back to the practical problem of new combined county authorities, where authorities led by a mayor are working alongside a number of commissioners. Scrutiny must be credible and consequential. That raises questions around not only the structure of oversight but how key decisions are taken in practice—particularly regarding enhanced voting thresholds to overturn mayoral decisions such as a two-thirds majority. Are they appropriate for major strategic or financial decisions? There must be clear and defined powers for overviewing scrutiny committees, including the ability, where concerns are well founded, to require decisions to be reconsidered or brought formally before a combined authority.