Councillors and decision making

Your elected councillors provide the essential foundation to the way in which your council operates.  Use the links to find out who your local councillor us and how you can make contact with them.

Constitution

Our constitution provides the framework within which we conduct our business. It describes who is responsible for making decisions and how decisions are made.

Local Byelaws

Created when there is no general legislation that deals with particular matters of concern to local people, byelaws must be ‘confirmed’ (approved) by a secretary of state for the government before they can come into force. Before applying for approval, councils have to advertise any proposed byelaws in the local press to give members of the public a chance to comment on them.

Parish and Town Councils

Parish and Town Councils are the first tier of local government and are the closest to the community they serve.

Petition the council

How to raise a concern with the council, what to include in a petition and how to submit it.

Decision making by officers

Decisions are made in the council every day. These decisions are about all sorts of things, including how we provide services, and raise taxes.

Scrutiny boards

Scrutiny boards provide challenge and support to decision makers. The boards are made up of elected councillors, and on some boards, co-optees.