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Democracy - Committees

• How do you have your say?
• What is the Agenda?
• What actually happens at the meeting?
• What happens when there is a confidential Item?
• Who sits on the committees and Advisory Panels?

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee supports the work of the Cabinet and the Council as a whole.

The role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to monitor the decisions of the Cabinet. It consists of 8 members of the Council, who are not Cabinet members. There are also two substitute members. As the Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitors the Cabinet's decisions it may 'call in' a decision, and make recommendations to Cabinet to reconsider its original decision.  It will receive a formal response to any matters it refers to Cabinet or Council.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has powers to ask people to attend to give evidence at committee meetings, following any investigation or review, the committee will prepare a report for Cabinet and/or Council as appropriate, and this report will be made public.

Community Forums

In order to give local people more of an opportunity to have their say in Council business, four Community Forums have been created. Community Forums are responsible for a range of area based decisions and advise the Cabinet and Council of local people's aspirations in order that they can help inform the decision making process. They also decide local service changes to a number of local services that do not impact upon budgets or District wide policy.

Find out more about Community Forums

Appeals Committee

The Appeals Committee is convened on an ad hoc basis to deal with the regulation or dismissal of a member of staff under the disciplinary procedure.

Standards Committee

The role of the Standards Committee is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Councillors and co-opted members through the Members' Code of Conduct. The Committee will deal with any reports from a tribunal or interim case tribunal, and any report from the monitoring officer on ethical standards issues.

The Standards Committee is a Committee of the Council and its membership is comprised of 5 District Councillors other than the leader, 4 independent people who are not Councillors or officers, and 2 Parish Councillor from the Council's area.  There are also 4 substitutes consisting of 2 District Councillors, 1 Parish Councillor and 1 Independent.

Standards Committee

Planning Committees

The work of the Plannning Committees is explained in detail under Planning Committees

Licensing Committee

Licensing committee

Advisory Panels

Each Standing Panel consists of twelve or fourteen EHDC Members. The Chairman of the Panel is appointed by Full Council. The Panels can appoint 'task and finish' groups to look at specific project areas.

The Panel may invite appropriate external representatives to assist in its policy development work, as appropriate.