The Cabinet

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended), the Leader:

• determines the size of and appoints between 2 and 9 Members of the Council to the Cabinet in addition to himself;
• allocates areas of responsibility (Portfolio Holder remits) to Members appointed to the Cabinet; and
• may remove Members from and appoint replacements to the Cabinet at any time.

The Cabinet makes major decisions and policy proposals, with the |Overview and Scrutiny Committee examining these decisions in detail and developing new policies for the Cabinet to consider.

The Cabinet comprises the Leader of the Council and nine Members with the following clearly defined Portfolio Holder remits:

|Councillor John OReilly, Leader of the Council
Presents the big picture; Revenue & Capital Budgets; Annual Budget Statement; Overall priorities and policy issues; Chairs the Cabinet and presents the Forward Plan of work

|Councillor Christine Cross, Portfolio Holder for Community Development
Community Leadership; Community Strategy; Joint Community Working and Partnership (County Council, Police etc); Neighbourhoods & Social Exclusion; Community Safety including CCTV; Local Area Agreements / Public Service Agreements; Community Engagement & Consultation; Economic Well-being & Business Network / Liaison

|Councillor Barbara Cowin, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Development
Organisational Improvement & Performance Management; Communications; Equalities & Diversity; Personnel (excluding appointments & dismissals); Emergency Planning; Member Services; Customer Services; Electoral Services

|Councillor Glenn Dearlove, Portfolio Holder for Environment
Waste Management; Environmental Well-being; Environmental Health and Licensing; Street Cleaning Services; Sustainability including Energy and Climate Change

|Councillor Dorothy Mitchell, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport
Liaison with Highway Authority; Off Street Car Parking; Public Transport; Traffic Management

|Councillor James Browne, Portfolio Holder for Housing
Housing Strategy; Allocation of Housing Enabling Funds; Overview of Housing Services; Housing Benefits; Promotion of Affordable Housing; Liaison with Registered Social Landlords; Housing Policy; Housing Advice; Homelessness; Grants - Private and Disability (eg Disabled Facilities Grants)

|Councillor Jan Fuller, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture
Arts & Culture; Sport & Leisure; Parks & Recreation; Promoting Healthy Lifestyles; Youth; Children's Issues (including Member Champion for Child Protection); Museums; Public Halls; Cemeteries; Tourism; Public Conveniences

|Councillor Simon Dodsworth, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Affairs
Planning Policy including Local Plan Planning Development Framework; Development Control including Tree Preservation Orders; Design Champion Role; Building Control; Street Naming; Section 106 Small Scale Site Tariff Spending Programmes; Land Charges

Portfolio Holder for Resources - Conservative Vacancy
Value for Money; Financial management including Insurance; Treasury Management (implementation of policies, practices and activities, including annual strategy and plan, mid year review and annual report); Local Taxation; Strategic Risk Management; Audit and Corporate Governance; ICT; Information Security; Asset Management and Property (including Tree Risk Strategy); Legal; Procurement Champion

|Councillor Christine Elmer, Portfolio Holder for Social Affairs
Health matters and liaison with Primary Care Trusts etc.; Voluntary Sector liaison and support; Services for older and disabled people (Meals on Wheels Service, Community Transport, Community Alarm and Relief Carers Scheme); Centres for the Community; Concessionary Fares

Role of the Cabinet

The Cabinet has executive decision making responsibilities, in accordance with the Council's agreed Budget and Policy Framework. The |Council's Constitution also provides for Individual Cabinet Member Decision Making with a specific protocol and clear delegations. There is a statutory obligation to publish a |Forward Plan of 'key decisions', which the Cabinet intends to take in the four month period following the publication of the Forward Plan. A key decision is one which results in the Council incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant with regard to the Council's budget, or is significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more electoral divisions. The Forward Plan is updated monthly and lists the items for the Cabinet's consideration and contains the particulars of the matters in respect of those decisions which are to be made.

|Attending Cabinet Meetings

Members of the public are very welcome to attend and watch the proceedings at meetings of the Cabinet. All Cabinet meetings are open to the press and public (subject to various legislative exclusions) and agendas and minutes are available online via the Council's |Calendar of Meetings. Cabinet meetings are normally held in Committee Rooms 1 and 2 at the Civic Centre, Esher and commence at 7.00 p.m.

|New Executive Arrangements

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 required Elmbridge Borough Council to make changes to its decision-making arrangements. The new arrangements came into effect immediately after the elections in May 2011. Proposals in this regard were considered by the Council at a Special Meeting on 6 October 2010.

If you would like further information about the Cabinet, please contact the |Principal Committee and Member Services Officer