All councillors meet together as the Council. These meetings are normally open to the public. Here, councillors decide the Council's overall policies and set the budget each year. The Council appoints the cabinet, which has, as a main role, the task of developing and implementing policy on behalf of the Council.

 

The Cabinet has to make decisions, which are in line with the Council's overall policies and budget. If it wishes to make a decision, which is outside the budget or policy framework, this must be referred to the full Council to decide.

 

Key decisions, which are to be made, are published in the Cabinet's Forward Plan.

 

Meetings of the Cabinet are open to the public, except where personal or confidential matters are being discussed.

 

A number of Scrutiny Committees monitor the decisions of the Cabinet and the implementation of policy. They can also recommend policies to the Cabinet and Council. They allow citizens to have a greater say in Council matters and are consulted by the Cabinet on developing policies.

 

Scrutiny Committees can call-in a decision that has been made by the Cabinet but not yet implemented.

This enables them to consider whether the decision is appropriate. They may recommend that the Cabinet reconsiders the decision.

 

The Council also appoints Regulatory Committees to perform the Council's regulatory functions such as Development Control (planning issues) and Licensing. The Council appoints other specialist committees from time to time.

 

The Council also has a Standards and Audit Committee to advise on the adoption and implementation of a Code of Conduct and Political Conventions for elected and co-opted Members. All Members have agreed to follow these so as to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their duties. The Standards Committee ensures there is appropriate training and advice on the Code.