An Explanation of the Council's Decision-Making Arrangements and its Councillors

The names of all our Councillors and the Wards they represent can be found:

• |By Name
• |By Committee
• |By Ward
• |By Political Party
• Or |search by your postcode
• Each Member has the facility to set up a personal web page - these can be found by visiting their |Individual Member Web Pages

Elmbridge Borough Council comprises 60 elected Members representing 22 Wards across the Borough. Councillors are elected to serve a 4 year term with elections covering 1/3rd of the seats taking place every year, except 1 in 4, when County Council elections are held.

The current political breakdown is:

• Conservative Group 33
• Residents' Associations Group 17
• Liberal Democrats Group 7
• Hinchley Wood Residents' Association Group 2
• One Vacancy

Group Leaders

Each Political Group appoints a leader, known as the [party or group] Group Leader.
The Group Leaders and Deputies are as follows:

Conservatives:
Group Leader |Cllr J. OReilly
(Deputy) | (Cllr R.G. Whittaker)

Liberal Democrats:
Group Leader |Cllr B. Fairbank
(Deputy) |(Cllr M. Macleod)

Residents' Associations:
Group Leader |Cllr C. Sadler
(Deputy) not specified

Hinchley Wood Residents' Association:
Group Leader |Cllr Mrs J.R. Turner
(Deputy) |(Cllr F. Dabell)

Local authorities are large organisations responsible for many services. Councillors are responsible for the overall policy and strategy which is decided at meetings of the Council. It would not be possible for all this activity to be controlled by one body - the Council itself - so the Local Government Act 2000 provided the ability to delegate as follows:

• Council - the Council, comprising all sixty Members, has overall responsibility for setting its Policy Framework; the annual Budget; and Council Tax. The Council appoints the Cabinet, Committees / Sub-Committees with specific delegations. Any matters which fall outside these delegations and / or outside the Budget and Policy Framework will be considered by Council. The Council determines the Scheme of Delegation for Officers, together with Financial and Contract Procedure Rules.
• Cabinet - comprises the Leader of the Council and up to nine Members with clearly defined Portfolio Holder remits. 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. The Cabinet's published rolling Forward Plan, updated monthly, contains a schedule of Key Decisions (as defined in the Constitution) and other matters as known, to be considered by the Cabinet over the ensuing four month period.
• Overview and Scrutiny - the Council has appointed an Overview and Scrutiny Committee to perform the following key functions:
  - Holding the Cabinet to account;
  - Monitoring Council performance;
  - Developing and reviewing policy;
  - Scrutinising externally issues of local public concern.
  The Council's Constitution also provides for a 'Call In Procedure' to enable the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider any proposed action agreed by the Cabinet within prescribed timescales, thereby ensuring a mechanism for holding the executive decision making to account.
• Regulatory Committees - the Council has appointed Licensing and Planning Committees (and related Sub-Committees) to discharge responsibilities in respect of regulatory matters as defined in their respective Terms of Reference.
• Audit and Standards Committee - the Council has appointed an Audit and Standards Committee (and related Sub-Committees, as appropriate) to promote and maintain high standards of conduct, as well as considering matters relating to the effective management of audit activity; accounts; and governance framework.

The Council's Constitution, decision making structure and arrangements; Schedule of Meetings and associated relevant reports / minutes are publicly available in accordance with access to information requirements and to encourage public involvement / attendance, as appropriate.

All Council and Committee meetings are open to the press and public (subject to various exclusions) and |agendas and reports are available online. Should you wish to attend a meeting, most start at 7.45pm and are held either in the Council Chamber or in Committee Rooms at the Civic Centre. Cabinet meetings and Audit & Standards Committee meetings commence at 7.00pm.

Standing as a Councillor.

Interested in representing local people and taking decisions that affect the local community? Why not have a look at our webpage on |standing as a Borough Councillor.