Since 2001 the council has operated
under an Executive and Leader system.
The Cabinet, formally known as the
Executive, is the part of the council which is responsible for most
day-to-day decisions. The Cabinet is made up of the Council Leader
and nine Cabinet Members. These are known as Portfolio Holders and
they are each responsible for specific service areas.
The Cabinet is responsible
for;
·
any Cabinet (executive) functions which involve a
recommendation to the Council including budget and policy
proposals.
·
making key decisions on any matter determined in the
Schedule of Key Decisions and included in the budget.
The Cabinet also
receives and responds to reports to the Cabinet (Executive) from
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Monitoring Officer and the
Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer; and recommendations from
Council.
General responsibilities
The general responsibilities of all
Cabinet Members include:
- To identify and
encourage public participation and consultation ensuring effective
communication of council policies and strategies (as contained in
the Corporate Plan and other plans) to all members of the council,
staff, residents of the borough, partners and
stakeholders
- To promote the
objectives of the council as contained in the Corporate
Plan
- To encourage external
organisations to work in partnership with the council
- To develop new
policies consistent with the overall strategic approach of the
council
- To encourage an
inclusive approach to the development of new or revised policies
ensuring that other sections of the council's structure and
individual members are able to contribute
- To establish targets
and monitor performance in relation to the council's policies and
strategies
- To speak on behalf of
the council
- To represent the
council on relevant external bodies to which they are appointed by
the council or Selection and Constitutional Review
Committee
- To request or
commission research or other studies on matters of policy or
service provision whether external or via other parts of the
council's political management structure
- To refer to the
Cabinet any matters with corporate implications
- To prepare responses
to consultation papers issued by the government and other
organisations in relation to those functions within the purview of
the Cabinet
- To give guidance on
budget priorities
- To develop proposals
for the effective use of land and property in partnership with
other stakeholders where appropriate
- To receive
representations from councillors acting in their capacity as Ward
Members in relation to the provision of services to residents
within their area