Further information

How the system works

Before 2001, we had a system of Committtees where members from all parties sat together to take decisions. The committee system was abolished except for those Commitees which deal with Planning and Licensing (for legal reasons). In its place is a Cabinet which is chaired by the Leader of the Council. This Cabinet determines the majority of issues itself. Individual members are not allowed to take decisions.

The Council

The Council is made up of 46 councillors elected every four years. All members receive a basic Members’ Allowance and others (such as Committee chairs and Cabinet members) receive an additional allowance in recognition of their added responsibilities. The duty of councillors is to the whole community, but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them.

In May of each year, a new Council Chairman & Vice-Chairman is appointed.

Code of Conduct for Councillors

Councillors have to agree to follow a Code of Conduct to make sure they follow the appropriate standards in the way they carry out their duties. The Standards Committee trains and advises them on the code of conduct. If you are unhappy with a Councillors bevaviour, find out here what you can do.

Council meetings

All councillors meet together as the Council. Meetings of the Council are open to the public, except in certain circumstances, and we pride ourselves on our openess. Here councillors decide the Council's overall policies and set the budget each year. The Council elects the Leader of the Council, other members of the Cabinet; the Scrutiny Committee (responsible for holding the Executive publicly accountable), the Main Planning Committee & three Area Planning Committees, the Licensing Committees and the Standards Committee.

The Cabinet

 The Cabinet consists of seven members of the ruling group which is responsible for most day-to-day decisions. The Executive is made up of the Leader elected by the Council and six others. Major decisions (known as 'Key Decisions') must be published in the Cabinet’s forward plan so you are aware of them in advance.

Cabinet must make decisions in line with the Council's overall policies and budget. If it wishes to make a decision which is outside the budget or policy framework, this must be referred to the Council as a whole to decide.

Scrutiny Committee

 The main role of the Scrutiny Committee is to make sure that robust and efficient arrangements for the delivery of the overview and scrutiny function in South Norfolk exist. The main activities are reviewing and scrutinising decisions taken by the Cabinet, and undertaking scrutiny investigations. This may include making reports and/or recommendations to the Council, Cabinet or any other committee.

Overview Sub-Committees

There are three Overview Sub-Committees which report to the main Scrutiny Committee. The Sub-Committees have similar areas of work as the portfolios in the Cabinet, and they are:

• Planning, Housing and the Built Environment Overview Sub-Committee;
• Environmental Health and Recycling Overview Sub-Committee;
• Tourism, Heritage, Enterprise and Culture Overview Sub-Committee.

See the membership of the Sub-Committees and read what was discussed at Sub-Committee meetings in the Committee minutes, agendas & reports section.

Other committees

The following six committees carry out those functions which cannot be carried out by the Cabinet. The Committees are:

• Licensing and Appeals Committee;
• Licensing Act 2003 Committee;
• Planning Committee, and;
• Three Area Planning Committees.

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee advises the Council in connection with any matter concerning the ethical standards of the Council and its Members.

Related pages on this website

• Councillors
• Chairman of the Council
• South Norfolk Council Constitution
• Parish councils