The Role of the Executive

The Council appoints the Executive, which consists of a Leader and six other councillors known as Executive Members.

Executive Members may be given delegated powers to make decisions. The scope and extent of these powers will be assessed and considered in the future. In the meantime they will recommend actions to the whole Executive.

The Leader and Executive members hold office for four years. The Constitution details circumstances in which a Leader or Executive Member can be removed from office including a change in political control of the Council. The Executive, which usually meets twice a month, must take decisions within the Council's Policy Framework and Budget.

The Executive:

• Takes decisions within the policy framework and budget
• Recommends policy and the budget to Council
• Considers issues outlined in a four month Forward Plan which is updated monthly
• Makes Key Decisions - those which have significant cost or savings, or have a significant impact on a large section of the community
• Leads on partnerships, Best Value and community planning
• May delegate decision making to Portfolio Holders and Area Committees
• Is the focus for forming partnerships with public, private, voluntary and community organisations to tackle local needs

What forms the Policy Framework?

• Annual Plan
• Best Value Performance Plan
• Annual Report
• Community Plan, Chester's Way Ahead
• Crime and Disorder Strategy
• Development Plan
• Corporate Plan
• Housing Investment Programme
• Local Agenda 21
• Budget Strategy
• The Council must agree all these.

The Budget includes:

• Money for services and projects
• Contingency funds
• Council Tax base
• Setting Council Tax
• Decisions about borrowing and investment
• Control of capital expenditure
• Controlling the transfer of funds from one area to another