Cabinet

1. Purpose   1.1 The Cabinet has the following responsibilities:   a. undertake all executive decision-making except those decisions delegated under the arrangements described in Part 1, Chapter L; b. to make decisions collectively; c. to propose the overall Budget and Policy Framework to the Council; d. to publish a Forward Plan of all the key decisions to be made by the Cabinet or individual Cabinet Members; e. if it so wishes, to establish one or more committees to discharge specific executive functions, or to establish working groups or panels to review or advise on specific issues; and, f. to recommend to Council or approve and adopt the relevant plans and strategies.   1.2 In accordance with the Principles and the approach set out in Part 1, some executive functions as described in the Scheme of Delegation may be delegated, such as the commissioning of services.   2. Terms of reference   2.1 To discharge all the functions of the authority except: a. those matters which are required by law to be discharged by the Full Council; and, b. all 'local choice' functions set out in Part 2, Chapter F, which the Council decides should be undertaken by itself rather than the Cabinet.   2.2 To implement the Council’s policies and spending in accordance with the policy framework and budget.   2.3 To make recommendations on major policy and resource matters to Council for decision, and ensure that full and proper consultation occurs on all such proposals.   2.4 To give political direction and guidance to and monitor the performance of the Council.   2.5 To provide political accountability for the Council’s performance to the Council and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.   2.6 To foster and improve the Council’s performance as a partner with other stakeholders.   2.7 To support, promote and monitor the application of the Cooperative Council Principles.   3. Membership   3.1 There are 10 Cabinet Member portfolio holders, including a Leader of the Council and two Deputy Leaders of the Council. The Leader of the Council appoints and allocates portfolios to the Deputy Leaders and other Cabinet Members. The Leader has the power to remove and/or replace any Cabinet Member. Leader of the Council   3.2 The Leader is a councillor elected to the position of Leader of the Council at the annual meeting of Council held after the four-yearly local election. The Leader holds office until:   a. they resign from office; b. they are no longer a councillor; c. on the expiry date of their fixed term of office as Leader which is the date of the post-election annual meeting which follows their election as Leader; or, d. they are removed from office by Council resolution.   3.3 If the Council passes a resolution to remove the Leader, a new Leader is to be elected: a. at the meeting at which the Leader is removed from office; or, b. at a subsequent meeting.   3.4 If a vacancy in the office of Leader of the Council arises for the reasons set out at (a) and (b) above (i.e. the former Leader resigns or is no longer a councillor), a new Leader is to be elected at the next scheduled meeting of the Council or at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, convened for this purpose in accordance with Part 4, Chapter B, Section c, Paragraph 1.1. Deputy Leader of the Council   3.5 The Leader must appoint at least one of the Cabinet Members as Deputy Leader, who will hold office until the end of the Leader’s term of office, unless they resign as Deputy Leader, ceases to be a councillor or is removed from office by the Leader. Where a vacancy occurs, the Leader must appoint another Deputy Leader. The Deputy Leader must, if for any reason the Leader is unable to act or the office of Leader becomes vacant (and pending the election of a new Leader by the Council), discharge all roles and functions of the Leader. If, for any reason, both the Leader and Deputy Leader are unable to act or both offices become vacant, the Cabinet must act in the Leader’s place or must arrange for another Cabinet Member to act in their place. Other Cabinet Members   3.6 Cabinet Members hold office until: a. they resign from office; b. they are no longer a councillor; or, c. the expiry date of their term of office (i.e. at the date of the Annual Meeting of the Council in any year) save that the Leader may remove the Cabinet Member from office at an earlier date. Deputy Cabinet Members and Lead Members   3.7 Other Members of the Council may, from time to time, be designated by the Leader (subject to report for information to Council) as a Deputy Cabinet Member, Champion or Lead Member for a particular activity or range of activities. Such a Member will not be a Cabinet Member and will not participate in decision-making but may work closely with the relevant Cabinet Member. Whilst a Deputy Cabinet Member shall not be a Member of any Scrutiny committee or sub-committee, this is permissible for Champions. 3.8 In addition, the Leader of the Council may appoint Community Champions to assist Cabinet with particular issues. These positions will be entirely voluntary with no allowances or expenses attached. It is anticipated that as we involve citizens more in all aspects of the Council’s work that Community Champions may act as a mechanism to acknowledge the work of particular citizens. 3.9 The Leader may also notify Council that the Cabinet are delegating some of their powers to individual officers, committees of Cabinet, or if Cabinet wish to appoint an advisory panel.   4. Responsibility for functions   4.1 The Leader will maintain and publish a list setting out the portfolio responsibilities of the individual Cabinet Members.   5. Cabinet Members and Cabinet Advisory Panels   5.1 Under the arrangements and following principles set out in Part 1, Chapter L, the Cabinet may delegate some of its powers to: a. individual Cabinet Members designated by the Leader as having responsibility for specific executive functions; and, b. officers.   5.2 The Cabinet may also set up Cabinet Advisory Panels to provide advice on particular issues, however they are not decision-making bodies. Advisory Panels may have a membership that extends beyond Cabinet Members to include other Councillors or interested parties.