27. Parliament has decided that Scrutiny Committees should have additional rights of access to information to help them carry out their duty of holding the executive to account. To this end they are entitled to copies of executive documents that contain material relating to any business that has been carried out at a Cabinet meeting, documents that relate to a decision made by the Leader of the Council or Cabinet Member under delegated powers or documents that relate to a decision made by an Officer under delegated powers. Such documents should be provided as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 10 clear days of the request. This right does not, however, allow a Scrutiny Committee to look at the advice of a political adviser, or any part of a document that contains exempt or confidential information, unless that information is relevant to an action or decision they are reviewing, scrutinising or intend to scrutinise. If the request is refused then written reasons should be provided to the Scrutiny Committee.
