Subsections (2) to (5) apply where F2a Local Healthwatch organisation or a Local Healthwatch contractor refers a matter relating to social care services to an overview and scrutiny committee of a local authority.

The committee must decide whether or not any of its powers is exercisable in relation to the matter referred.

If the committee concludes that any of those powers is exercisable in relation to the matter, the committee must decide whether or not to exercise that power in relation to the matter.

The committee, in exercising any of those powers in relation to the matter, must take into account any relevant information provided by F3a Local Healthwatch organisation or a Local Healthwatch contractor.

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as respects determining the time by which a duty under subsection (2)(a) is to be performed.

For the purposes of this section, something is done by a Local Healthwatch organisation if it is done by that organisation in the carrying-on, under arrangements made under section 221(1), of activities specified in section 221(2).

For the purposes of this section, something is done by a Local Healthwatch contractor if it is done by that contractor in the carrying-on, under Local Healthwatch arrangements, of activities specified in section 221(2).

In this section—

• F5“Local Healthwatch arrangements” has the meaning given by section 222;

• “Local Healthwatch contractor” has the meaning given by section 223;

• “overview and scrutiny committee”—

  1. a

     in relation to a local authority which under Part 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 (c. 22) operates executive arrangements, means an overview and scrutiny committee of the authority within the meaning given by section 21(1) of that Act;

  2. b

     in relation to a local authority which under Part 2 of that Act operates alternative arrangements, means a committee or sub-committee appointed under section 32(1)(b) of that Act;

  3. c

     in relation to the Common Council of the City of London, means a committee established under section 10(1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (c. 15); and

  4. d

     in relation to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, means a committee which, by virtue of an order under section 265 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), is appointed by the Council under section 21(1) or 32(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 2000;

• “social care services” means services provided as part of the social services functions of a local authority;

• “social services functions”, in relation to a local authority, has the same meaning as in the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42).