Cabinet decision making
The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 say that we must publish a notice:
- containing information about any key executive decision which will be taken, 28 clear days before the date of the decision
- containing information about any executive decision which will be taken by the Cabinet or an individual member of Cabinet in private session, for example after a resolution to exclude the public has been made, 28 clear days before the date of the decision
- five clear days before the meeting in question
The Council’s executive forward plan (the plan) incorporates the first two requirements. The agendas for meetings will include the third requirement. Agendas and reports for meetings of the Cabinet are available five working days before the meeting.
The plan includes details of:
- items to be debated by the Cabinet which relate to policy or budget formulation
- items which will be subject to a recommendation to Council
- other matters to be considered by the Cabinet (when known)
- the names and responsibilities of current members of the Cabinet
The plan is updated on a monthly basis, and the timing of items may be subject to change.
Sometimes, a key decision can be taken or considered in private, even though 28 clear days notice has not been given. If such an exception occurs, a notice of the matter and the reasons will be published on this page.
Key decisions
These are defined as those which are financially significant (in terms of spending or savings) for the service or function concerned or which will have a significant impact on two or more wards in the district.
The Council has decided that something is financially significant for these purposes if it is an Executive decision which requires a budget expenditure of £150,000 or more, or generates savings of £150,000 or more.
The Chief Executive will decide whether a decision will have a significant impact on two or more wards. It is for the Chief Executive to decide which decisions are Key, subject to guidance from the Monitoring Officer who may require that a decision be treated as a Key Decision.
Notices issued to the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (The Regulations) notices are required to be issued to the Chair of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee if an exempt item or Key Decision has not been publicised on the Cabinet Forward Plan for the required 28 days.
Scrutiny Notice in relation to item for Cabinet on 9 May 2022 - pdf - 187 Kb