County Council to disband Finance Panel
The Democratic Services Committee will be asked to consider a report recommending that the panel be discontinued, with the final decision to be made by Full Council on October 8. If approved, the council’s Constitution would be amended accordingly.
The Finance Panel was established in 2014 to strengthen financial scrutiny, including oversight of the council’s budget, Medium-Term Financial Strategy, financial monitoring and financial risks.
Since then, the council’s wider governance arrangements have developed. Financial scrutiny is now undertaken through its service-focused Scrutiny Committees, while the Governance and Audit Committee provides independent assurance over financial affairs, governance, risk and control.
The cross-party Budget Advisory Group, established in 2025, also gives councillors earlier involvement in developing budget proposals and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. The group is advisory and does not replace the council’s formal, public scrutiny arrangements.
The report concludes that the Finance Panel’s substantive functions are already being delivered through these existing arrangements. It says bringing financial and service performance scrutiny together would reduce duplication, clarify accountability and allow councillors to consider budgets alongside service pressures, risks and outcomes for residents. Maintaining effecting financial scrutiny remains essential.
If supported by the Democratic Services Committee, the recommendation will be referred to Full Council for a final decision. The council’s statutory scrutiny arrangements and Governance and Audit Committee would remain in place.
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