How we make decisons

How the Council operates

We have 60 councillors (Members) who each serve a four-year term. One-third is elected three years in four. Members have a duty to the whole community, but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them. Members must follow a code of conduct, which is enforced by the Ethics and Standards Committee. All members meet together as the Full Council.

These meetings are normally open to the public. Council decides overall policies and sets the annual budget. It also has other functions detailed in the constitution.

Decision-making

The Council appoints an Executive, which is responsible for most day-to-day decisions. The Cabinet is made up of the Leader and 6 other members. The Executive's Forward Plan, published each month details major issues for decision or discussion. These meetings are open to the public except when the matters are personal or confidential. The Executive must make decisions in line with the Council's overall policies and budget. Matters outside the budget or policy framework must be referred to the full Council to decide.

Overview and Scrutiny

There are six scrutiny committees and an Examination and Review Committee, which review and support the work of the Executive and the Council as a whole. They give people a greater say in council affairs by holding inquiries into matters of local concern. The Executive and whole council use the resulting reports to inform policies, budget and service delivery. Scrutiny committees also monitor the decisions of the Executive. They can 'call-in' an Executive decision within five days to consider whether the right decision has been made. They may recommend that the Executivereconsider.

The Executive or the Council can also consult the committees on forthcoming decisions and the development of policy.

The council's staff

Council staff give advice, implement decisions, manage and provide the day-to-day delivery of services.

Some officers have a specific duty to ensure that the Council acts within the law and uses its resources wisely. A code of practice governs the relationships between officers and members.

Citizens' rights

People have rights in their dealings with us. Some are legal rights, others depend on our own rules and procedures.

Where people use specific council services, they have additional rights. These are not covered in this constitution.

Citizens have the right to:

• vote in local elections
• contact their local councillor about any matters of concern to them
• a copy of the constitution
• attend Council, Executive and committee meetings except where personal or confidential matters are being discussed
• petition for a referendum on an elected mayor
• take part in the Council's question time and contribute to investigations by the review committees
• See the Forward Plan of major issues for discussion or decision by the Executive
• see non confidential reports, background papers and any record of decisions made by the Council, Executive, Boards and Committees
• complain to the Council if we have not done our job properly
• complain to the Ombudsman if they think we have not followed our procedures properly. They should only do this after using the Council's own complaints process
• complain to the Standards Board for England if they have evidence which they think shows that a councillor has not followed the Council's Code of Conduct
• inspect the Council's accounts and make their views known to the external auditor.

The Council has produced a guide to act as an introduction to the Council's organisational structure and to describe the role of various aspects of the council's work.