After the local elections on 2 May 2002, the Leader and Cabinet structure took effect, to make decision making faster and clearer and to foster closer links with local communities.
Mayor
The Mayor is the civic figurehead and chairs Council meetings. Each year the 60 local ward councillors elect one of their number as Mayor.
Leader and Cabinet
The Council appoints a Leader and eight other Members to sit on the Executive for one year. This Executive provides political leadership and proposes policies and budgets. It meets monthly, taking decisions by majority vote. Six councillors, with the Leader, have portfolio responsibilities and are appointed from the political party forming the administration of the Council. A Member from each of the two largest minority groups also sits on the Executive, giving it a membership of nine.
Decision making
When key decisions are to be discussed or made by the Executive, these are published in the Council's Forward Plan if they can be anticipated. Key decisions are those above a financial threshold or which have a significant impact on a ward. The Executive has to make decisions that are in line with the Council's overall policy and budget framework set out in the Best Value Plan and in the budget agreed by Council. If it wishes to make a decision which is outside the budget or policy framework, this must be referred to the Council as a whole to decide. Executive Members with portfolio responsibilities can, as individuals, also decide on issues.
Committees
Policy Development and Scrutiny Committees: There are also seven Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Committees who have a major role in policy development and scrutinising the decisions of the Executive. They have no decision making powers but make reports and recommendations which advise the Executive and the Council as a whole on its policies, budget and service delivery. Policy Development and Scrutiny Committees also monitor the decisions of the Executive and can challenge or 'call-in' a decision that has been made by the Executive. This enables them to consider whether the decision of the Executive was appropriate. They may recommend that the Executive reconsider the decision. They may also be consulted by the Executive or the Council on forthcoming decisions and the development of policy.
General Purposes and Licensing and Development Control Committees: Legislation prevents all the Council's powers being exercised by the Executive so there is a General Purposes and Licensing Committee which deals with quasi-legal issues such as licensing and with staffing and audit matters.
The Development Control Committee which carries out the Council's planning function continues to operate very much as in the past, with the public having the opportunity to speak.
Portfolios
The Executive and PDS committees are organised around portfolios, each portfolio being represented by a Member of the Executive from the majority political party. The portfolios cover:
Adult and Community;
Children and Young People;
Environment and Leisure;
Local Economy;
Public Protection and Safety; and
Resources.
Details
The Executive is like a central government cabinet, with individuals making decisions on behalf of the Council. The PDS committees are like the select committees at Westminster, holding the Executive to account by examining and questioning decisions made. The PDS committees are also able to research issues and suggest ideas for future policies.
What about standards reporting?
A Standards Committee has been set up to promote and maintain high standards of conduct in all the Council's activities.
In response to a view clearly expressed during public consultation the majority (four) of its members are people independent of the Council, who sit with three non-Executive councillors. The committee's task is to maintain and monitor high standards of conduct in all the Council's activities.
Meetings
A forward programme of key issues is published four months in advance of relevant meetings, giving details of decisions to be made and who will be making them. Our website has information on both the forward programme and decisions made. This forward plan is updated monthly.
Agendas and non-confidential supporting papers will continue to be available to all staff, councillors, press and members of the public five working days before any Council meeting.
Meetings of the Executive and Policy Development and Scrutiny committees are held in the Civic Centre with public and press welcome to attend except where personal or confidential matters are being discussed. Public questions will continue at full Council Meetings.
Contact
Telephone: 020 8313 4745
Fax: 020 8290 0608
E-mail: committee.services@bromley.gov.uk
Address: Democratic Services, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH.
Office hours: Mon to Fri 8.45am to 5pm