1. Your Role within the District Council
Collectively with the other 37 members of the District Council, you will be ultimately responsible for the Council's budget and Policy framework. Through Council meetings, you will carry out a number of strategic and corporate management functions.
You may in addition be called upon to serve in one or more of the following roles:
- In the Cabinet and taking day-to-day decisions, either collectively or as an individual to whom powers have been delegated, in keeping with the budget and policy framework laid down in the Council's Constitution.
- In one of the Cabinet's Sub-Committees, if established.
- As a member of one of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees (the Policy Development Panel or the Performance Monitoring Panel).
- In a Task Group of either Panel, if established.
- As a member of one of a number of standing committees such as the Standards Committee, Development Control Committee, Licensing Committee, Appointments and Disciplinary Panel or the Appeals Panel.
- In various other specialist committees, panels and working parties, with other members of the Council, Council officers, and representatives of other agencies.
- As a representative of the Council on external bodies and organisations.
2. Duties and Responsibilities
- Serving the Community - You should represent your local community and bring its views into the Council's decision-making process. You are an influential advocate of your community. You should deal with individual casework and act as an advocate for constituents in resolving particular concerns or grievances. You have to balance different interests identified within your ward and represent the ward as a whole. You should respond to constituents' enquiries and representations, fairly and impartially.
- Management - You will oversee and ensure that high quality services are provided to local people (this might include corporate decision making, executive decision making and/or performance monitoring).
- Finance - You will contribute towards the setting of an annual budget, which will involve making decisions on service priorities.
- Partnerships - You will develop and maintain a good working relationship with other private and public bodies.
- Policies and Legislation - You will keep up to date with all developments affecting the district and the Council, including Government policies and prospective legislation.
- Equal Opportunities - You will ensure that all duties are performed and all services provided in compliance with equal opportunities legislation and the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy.
3. Rights and Obligations
Members have such rights of access to such documents, information, land and buildings of the Council as are necessary for the proper discharge of their functions and in accordance with the law.
Members will not make public information which is confidential or exempt without the consent of the Council, or divulge information given in confidence to anyone other than a member or officer entitled to know it.
For these purposes, "confidential" and "exempt" information are defined in the Access to Information Rules in Part 4 of the Council's Constitution.
4. Politics
If you belong to a political party or group, and stood as such at election, you will need to balance carefully your loyalties to the District Council, electors, and your party.
5. Conduct
You should maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics. In particular you should be familiar with, and follow, the Members' Code of Conduct. You should be aware of the importance of declaring and registering your interests to you as an elected representative; as a member of the District Council; and as a member of your political party (if you belong to one).
