The Scrutiny system helps ensure that the best service possible is provided for Cambridgeshire residents. It involves elected members working with local people to make sure that the Council’s policies and services are continually improved, and that health services meet the needs of residents. 
Scrutiny aims to:

• Improve public services for the residents of Cambridgeshire
• Hold the Cabinet (the council's decision-makers) to account
• Engage citizens, communities and stakeholders in its work

There are four cross-party Scrutiny Committees, each made up of Councillors, who work to scrutinise the work of the Council’s 3 Offices, and NHS services in Cambridgeshire.

Environment and Community Services
Roads, transport, strategic planning, libraries, trading standards, waste, etc.

Children and Young People’s Services
Early years, education, children’s social services, young offending, Connexions, the youth service, etc.

Health and Adult Social Care 
Health services, adult social services, older people’s care, etc.

Office of Corporate Services 
Business support and development, finance and performance, governance, human resources, information technology, property and asset management, etc.

Local Area Agreement Joint Accountability Committee

A new Scrutiny Committee was launched in October 2007, which includes Councillors from the district/city councils, and the Police Authority. The LAA Joint Accountability Committee's role is to provide strategic scrutiny of Cambridgeshire's Local Area Agreement (LAA).

LAAs set out the priorities for a local area agreed between central government and a local area (the local authority and Local Strategic Partnership) and other key partners at the local level.

LAAs simplify some central funding, help join up public services more effectively and allow greater flexibility for local solutions to local circumstances. 

The LAA Joint Accountability Committee aims to ensure that the LAA is delivering effective public services, using the money channelled through it as efficiently as possible, and achieving outcomes greater than would be possible if the LAA was not in place.