How decisions are made
On 14 December 1999, the Council adopted a number of proposals to modernise its political management structure. The modernisation process had been prompted by a Central Government consultation paper entitled "Modern Local Government - Local Leadership, Local Choice" which encouraged local authorities to adopt new ways of working with the aim of securing greater efficiency, transparency, accountability and higher standards of conduct.
Decisions taken by and on behalf of the Council fall into one of the following categories:
- Strategic policy and budget decisions that are by law or decisions of the Council reserved to meetings of the full Council.
- Decisions to adopt or amend the Constitution and make appointments under the Constitution and related matters that are reserved to the full Council.
- Decisions taken in the discharge of executive functions that are for the Executive.
- Decisions involving significant expenditure or which have a significant impact on local communities are known as ‘key decisions’ and are subject to publication in the Forward Plan of the Executive and taken at a meeting open to the public.
- Operational decisions to be taken either by the Executive or the appropriate officer.
