Who holds Hackney decision-makers to account, and suggests ways of improving public services in the borough?
 
This is the role of Hackney’s scrutiny commissions, committees of local councillors who work across party political lines to put the issues that matter under the spotlight.
 
Each year the five scrutiny commissions carry out reviews of issues suggested by residents through an annual survey.
 
Anyone can get involved, either by attending meetings, registering their opinions or recommending topics for future work.
 
The scrutiny commissions are: Health in Hackney; Children and young people; Governance and resources; Living in Hackney; and Community safety and social inclusion.
 
This year the groups have reviewed some of the biggest issues faced in the borough - childhood obesity, employment opportunities, the impact of the night time economy, and services for residents with chronic alcoholism being just a few of the topics. Throughout the year one Commission has been scrutinising the way that the budget will be formed, to provide public oversight of the way hard decisions have been taken.
 
To take part in the anonymous survey please visit www.hackney.gov.uk/scrutiny-residents-survey, call 020 8356 3029, or e-mail: scrutiny@hackney.gov.uk The survey deadline is Friday 31st May.