NEW faces have joined the ranks of those holding Hackney’s public services to account and keeping a watchful eye on how the Town Hall runs the borough.

Residents are being urged to take part in how Hackney Council and partner organisations manage services on their behalf, following the announcement of this year’s new Scrutiny Commissions.

Scrutiny Commissions are committees of councillors who work across party political lines. Every year the five Commissions investigate issues suggested by residents through an annual survey, and then report to the Cabinet on how services could be improved. 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 Scrutiny.

At the Annual General Meeting of Hackney Council, held on 26 May at the Town Hall, this year’s Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Scrutiny Commissions were announced as follows:

Cllr Gülay Içöz is the Chair and Cllr Geoff Taylor the Vice Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission.

Cllr Luke Akehurst is the Chair and Cllr Daniel Kemp the Vice Chair of the Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission.

Cllr Philip Glanville is the Chair and Cllr Ian Rathbone the Vice Chair of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission.

Cllr Carole Williams is the Chair and Cllr Angus Mulready-Jones the Vice Chair of the Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission.

Cllr Rob Chapman is the Chair and Cllr Simche Steinberger the Vice Chair of the Governance and Resources Scrutiny Commission.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is made up of all the Chairs and Vice Chairs, and oversees the function as a whole – it is chaired by Cllr Steinberger, with Cllr Kemp as Vice Chair.

Last year’s annual residents’ survey, advertised in Hackney Today, showed that crime was one of the top priorities for residents, and so two Commissions jointly investigated anti-social behaviour on housing estates, and recommended better ways for the Council and partners to tackle the issue.

Cllr Steinberger said: “If you care about your borough, come along and take part in how Scrutiny works in Hackney – we put the issues that matter under the spotlight and it is vital that residents play a role in how their local services are held to account.”

To take part in the reviews these commissions will complete of local public services, please contact: 020 8356 3341; e-mail: scrutiny@hackney.gov.uk; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/scrutiny