What is the Cabinet?
The Cabinet is made up of 10 councillors. Meetings are chaired by the Leader of the Council (Cllr. Parnaby) and are usually attended by senior Council Officers including the Chief Executive.
The Cabinet's role is to implement all decisions within existing council policy and budget and to advise the full Council on policies, plans, strategies and fixing the Council budget. No individual member of the Cabinet has any decision making authority.
The Cabinet is responsible for implementing, within Policy, many of the powers of the Council. It also advises the Full Council on all policies, plans and strategies, including the fixing of the budget and Council tax levels, which will remain the responsibility of all Members of the Council.
Key decisions which the Cabinet and Full Council are scheduled to make within the next four months are detailed in The Forward Work Plan of Key Decisions. [pdf: 169kb]
Members of the public have access to agenda papers and minutes setting out the decisions of the Cabinet and are able to attend meetings of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet is not responsible for 'non-executive' functions and there are separate Committees to consider these functions. These include: Planning Applications; Licensing; School Admission/Exclusion appeals; Traffic Regulation Orders; Pension Fund and Personnel.
Are decisions of the Cabinet final?
Any decision, except one that is recommended up to the Full Council (which will be if it is outside the existing policy or budget) can be "called in".
The effect of this is that the decision of the Cabinet is suspended pending consideration of the matter by an Overview & Scrutiny Committee or the Council. Further to this consideration the Cabinet will then be asked to either confirm or amend their original decision. The rules for this are set out in the Council's constitution.
Contact: Helena Coates - Democratic Services 01482 393210
Terms of Reference
To guide the Council in the formulation of its policy framework, including the setting of the Budget and Council Tax levels. To discharge in accordance with the Council's policy framework all those functions not discharged either by Non-Executive Committees or through delegations to Officers.
Advisory Functions
To advise the Council on:-
1. All matters relating to the formulation of major corporate plans, strategies and objectives of the Council.
2. All matters relating to the finances of the Council including:-
(a) Council Tax levels;
(b) Capital and Revenue Budgets;
(c) Financial Regulations.
3. All matters requiring a decision outside of the Council's adopted policy framework.
Delegated Functions
1. To deal with all matters, within policy, other than those delegated either to Non-Executive Committees or to Officers
2. To determine action to be taken on matters which, in the opinion of the Chief Executive, are of an urgent nature which must be dealt with before confirmation, approval of and adoption by the Council and when there is no meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee with appropriate delegated powers scheduled to take place prior to a decision being needed.
