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Address:
The Guildhall
Frankwell Quay
Shrewsbury
SY3 8HQ
 
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01743 281000
 
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A. Introduction

New Forms of Governance for Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council

Major changes have taken place in the governance of local authorities in England. The Committee model of Member decision making has been replaced by new constitutions as a result of the Local Government Act 2000. These changes are part of a wider policy to strengthen local authorities' ability to deliver effective community leadership, democratic renewal and continuous improvement in services. Their purpose is to create efficient, accountable and transparent governance which will support this wider agenda.
 
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council have consulted on the form of executive arrangements and following consultation it has adopted the Leader and Cabinet Model.
 
The executive systems establish new roles and relationships within the local authority:

  • the Council Meeting will set the overall budget and policy framework and will be a focus for debate about the performance of the Cabinet;
  • Overview and Scrutiny Committees will advise on policy formulation and hold the Cabinet to account in relation to specific matters. They may also review areas of Council activity which are not the responsibility of the Cabinet or matters of wider local concern;
  • a small Cabinet, consisting of a Leader and Cabinet, will make decisions within this framework. Decisions may be delegated to individuals in the Cabinet, Committees of the Cabinet, officers, Area Committees, joint arrangements or other authorities, or contracted out;
  • most regulatory decisions will continue to be made by Committees of the Council;
  • there will be a Standards Committee to promote high standards of conduct and support Members' observation of the Code of Conduct.
The intention of these changes, which are contained in Parts II and III of the Local Government Act 2000, is to deliver visible, accountable leadership for Councils and transparent, efficient decision making which reflects high standards of conduct.

The Form of the Constitution

This constitution provides an important means of enabling citizens and stakeholders to understand how the Council makes decisions and who is responsible for those decisions. Section 37 of the Act requires each local authority to prepare, keep up to date and publicise a document known as the Council's constitution.
 
This constitution is at the heart of the local authority's business. It allocates power and responsibility within the local authority, and between it and others. For example, it delegates authority to act to individual officers and may enable members of the public to ask questions at an Area Committee meeting. It also regulates the behaviour of individuals and groups through codes of conduct, protocols and standing orders.
 
The basic distinction in the way the constitution is presented is between articles and rules of procedure and associated material. Articles are intended to set the overall framework and in general will not be subject to frequent change. They are about what is to be done and by whom. Procedure rules, codes of conduct and the other material located after the articles are broadly about how the articles will be put into effect. They may be subject to more frequent change, especially as the local authority learns from the experience of operating new constitutions.