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How we make decisionsWho are the decision makers?Most decisions will be made by the Cabinet and its members. The Council committees will also make decisions. The Constitution has an up to date section on which part of the Council or individual has responsibility for particular types of decisions. It also has a section on decisions that can be made by Council staff. See The Constitution High standardsDecision-making in the Royal Borough is open and accountable. Decisions will always be made on the best advice, both legal and financial and say clearly what they are intended to achieve. All options that were considered and rejected will be published along with reasons. The Council will always keep its actions in proportion, so we won't be using a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut'. Making decisionsCabinet Members can refer matters to the full Cabinet for decision and senior Council staff will also be able to make decisions under delegated powers. Decisions don't have to wait for the relevant Cabinet Member to become available; the Leader and Deputy Leader will be able to act if he or she is unavailable. Cabinet Members will consult other members as necessary before taking decisions. They can also organise public consultation, if appropriate. All proposed decisions will be flagged up in the Forward Plan and published at least three clear working days before they are made by the full Cabinet. The relevant overview and scrutiny committee will be notified of the proposed decision and its members can take part in the Cabinet debate with the Leader's consent. Once the decision is made at the meeting, an overview and scrutiny committee may call it in by the end of the following day. If they do call it in, the decision cannot be implemented for up to five days, giving the overview and scrutiny committee time to consider it. If they do not consider it, the decision can be implemented immediately. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may decide to take no further action, or
they may ask the cabinet to reconsider. If they decide to ask the Cabinet to
think again, the matter then goes to the next Cabinet meeting where the final
decision is made. Overview and Scrutiny Committee members will be invited to
attend that meeting. Once the decision has been made, the relevant overview and scrutiny committee has five clear working days to comment and raise any matters with the Cabinet Member. If any problems cannot be sorted out, the Cabinet Member can arrange for the matter to be discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Once the five days are up the Cabinet Member confirms the decision and publishes it. The decision won't be implemented for a further five days, giving the Overview and Scrutiny Committee time to decide whether to call it in. If they do, the decision will be deferred for a further five working days. During that time, if the overview and scrutiny committee recommends that the decision is reconsidered, it will be referred to the next cabinet meeting where the final decision will be made. Overview and scrutiny committee members will be able to attend that meeting. Overview and Scrutiny Committees can only call-in decisions if one-third of their members agree. UrgencyThe notice period can be waived in exceptional circumstances if the chairman of the relevant overview and scrutiny committee agrees. The Leader will have to make quarterly reports to Council about the use of this urgency procedure. Delegated powersIt simply isn't practical for Cabinet Members to take every one of the many decisions that are made weekly, so Council Officers have 'delegated powers' to handle some of these. Decisions can only be made in line with Council policy and the law. They include for example, spending within certain pre-defined limits, taking legal action, including enforcement, serving statutory notices and signing contracts valued at up to £60,000. A full list of these is set out in The Constitution.
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