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How we govern
The Leader and his Cabinet are the focus for policy-making and decision making. Decisions are made by individual Cabinet Members in many cases and in full Cabinet for politically sensitive matters. This is a major change from the old arrangements where most decisions were taken by committees.
The Cabinet system allows decisions to be made more quickly and allows members of the public to be clear about which individual Cabinet Member is responsible.
Working along similar lines to central government, the Cabinet is made up of 10 senior Majority Party (Conservative) councillors including the Leader. Members of both parties - Conservative and Labour - have agreed that a single-party cabinet is the most effective way of governing the Royal Borough. The Leader is elected annually by the full Council and will make all Cabinet appointments.
For a list of Cabinet Members and their portfolios see Cabinet and Portfolios
The Cabinet may only take decisions that are in line with the Royal Borough's budget and major plans, as approved by the full Council. The Cabinet must get approval from the full Council if it wants to take a decision that deviates from this policy.
The Cabinet is the focus of forming partnerships with the community and for the Council's role in 'leading the community', picking up issues that affect local people and putting them right at the top of the agenda - nationally, if appropriate.
The Royal Borough already has a good record of doing this, but this will be developed for your benefit. We have already made a good start with our successful high profile campaign to persuade the Government to act on the scourge of 'crack dens'. This will square with the 'well-being' powers, which the Council intends to make full use of, so that local people and organisations can help us to set out a vision for the future and make real improvements to our Royal Borough.
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