The institutional and personal drivers of council scrutiny. A survey analysis of Dutch local government

Council scrutiny constitutes an indispensable prerequisite for democratic, constitutional and effective government. This study draws on a multivariate regression analysis of survey data obtained from Dutch local councillors (N = 1,514) to elucidate the conditions under which councillors become active scrutineers. In this context, active scrutiny refers to councillors' self-reported aggregate contribution to holding the executive to account, policy development and review, best value and performance management, external scrutiny and budget review. The findings reveal that councillors' intrinsic attitudes and capabilities, supported by the council's institutional capacity, play a pivotal role. Councillors must be willing to scrutinise the government as an initial step. However, to subdue the council's inherent political scrutiny logic, we find that furnishing councils with autonomous administrative support, party group assistance and solid training can be forceful compensatory mechanisms. In this way, the interplay of personal and institutional drivers contributes to achieving a vital and sound political system underpinned by council scrutiny.