Decision Making in the Council

DECISION MAKING IN THE COUNCIL

Responsibility for Decision Making

The Council will issue, and keep up to date, a record of what part of the Council or individual has responsibility for particular types of decisions or decisions relating to particular areas or functions.

Principles of Decision Making

All decisions of the Council will be made in accordance with the following principles:

a)  proportionality (i.e. the action must be proportionate to the desired outcome);
b)  due consideration and the taking of professional advice from officers;
c)  respect for human rights;
d)  a presumption in favour of openness;
e)  clarity of aims and desired outcomes.

Types of Decision

a)  Decisions reserved to full Council. Decisions relating to the function listed in Article 4.2 of the Constitution will be made by the full Council unless these decisions have been delegated theought the Constitution.

b)  Key decisions:

A key decision is one, which is likely ;
 i)  to result in the Council incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the Council's budget for the service or function to which the decision relates to; or
ii)  to be significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards in the area of the Council.

c)  A decision taker may only make a key decision in accordance with the requirements of the executive procedure rules set out in part 4 of the Constitution.