Council and democracy

The Council works to a framework defined by the Constitution (updated October 2012)

More information about what the Council does and how it is structured can be found in the Your Council leaflet, which is currently being updated. 

Political Balance

Conservative18
Labour17
Independent9
Independent Alliance2
Liberal Democrat1
UKIP1
TOTAL48

 

The Council adopted a new way of working in December 2007 by modernising the way it makes decisions.  This is aimed at improving democracy, accountability and efficiency.  The major decisions for the coming months can be found here in the Cabinet Forward Plans

Cabinet

Councillor Patrick Molyneux - Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration

Councillor Brian Robinson - Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy

Councillor Diana Edwards - Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships and Projects

Councillor Terry Hale - Cabinet Member for Community

Councillor Martin Quaile - Cabinet Member for Environment

For more detail on individual cabinet member responsibilities please see portfolios June 2011

Overview and scrutiny

Where Cabinet decisions are made within existing Council policies they become effective immediately unless they are “called in” to the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Calling in is a mechanism whereby other councillors can challenge decisions before they are implemented.  The Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee of non-Cabinet members has been established to monitor decisions, review policies and performance and to make recommendations for future action.

You will find the latest annual scrutiny report here Scrutiny Annual Report 2011-12

Council

The Council has the ultimate power to hold the Cabinet to account. The Council’s functions are to

  • make decisions required by statute;
  • consider, debate and approve budget, policy and major service proposals;
  • scrutinise the performance of the Cabinet with the assistance of scrutiny committees;
  • make appointments to the Cabinet, committees and outside bodies;
  • consider wider matters affecting the authority.