How does the Council work?
Your council has a Chair of Cabinet and a Cabinet for decision making. The introduction of the Executive System aims to make it clear who is responsible for decisions; it is made up of six portfolio holders who make the day to day decisions affecting their areas of responsibility.
To check on the actions of the Executive, Overview and Scrutiny Committees have been formed with the power to look closely at the decisions of the cabinet and review the policies of the council.
The full council is made up of all 58 members and has the role of setting the annual budget and overall policy framework for the council. Scrutiny may also refer unresolved call-in issues to full council.
The diagram gives more detail of the decision making structure of the Council, including all of its committees. More information about the work of the Council's committees can be found in the "committees" section.
Agendas and minutes of meetings setting out decisions of the Council, Cabinet and Committees.
Who is my local councillor?
Find out the details of your local councillor.
Who sits on St Albans City and District Council?
Following the District Council election on 5 May 2011 the following parties are represented on the Council:
Conservative: 29 seats
Liberal Democrat: 23 seats
Labour: 4 seats
Independent: 1 seat
Green: 1 seat
Overview and Scrutiny
There are two Overview and Scrutiny committees.
The committees are made up of councillors from all parties, they have the job of closely looking at (scrutinising) the work of the council and its executive. They also have the power to call-in decisions made by cabinet members before they are implemented.
Scrutiny's power to review involves looking closely at a particular service or policy over a short period of time to make suggestions for improvement. The review may take the form of: analysis of policy, carrying out research and conducting consultation. It can also involve the questioning of portfolio holders, officers and members of the public to act as witnesses. The committee also has the power to co-opt members of the public or an organisation because of their expert knowledge on a particular subject.
Register of decisions taken by Portfolio Holders or Heads of Service
Under the Council's Scheme of Delegation some decisions are delegated to individual Portfolio Holders or Heads of Service. All significant decisions are recorded on a Decision Form which states the basis of the decision including other options considered, together with a list of any consultees.
The following is a list of decisions taken by Portfolio Holders or Heads of Service under delegated powers. Click on the relevant link for each decision to view the Decision Form.