How are decisions made?
The full council
The full council meets at least six times a year. All 62 members are required to attend each meeting.
One of its functions is to agree the major policies, which govern the way services are provided or set down the council's general approach to do things.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is made up of the Leader (appointed by the County Council), Deputy Leader and currently seven other councillors who are chosen by the Leader of the County Council from the majority party, currently Reform.
Each cabinet member has a specific portfolio of work for which he or she is responsible.
The Cabinet normally meets monthly. Its role is to lead in the preparation of the Council's policies and budget.
The Cabinet makes decisions collectively and Cabinet members can also make decisions individually. These are known as 'delegated decisions'.
Overview and scrutiny
Overview and scrutiny gives an important role to all councillors who do not hold Cabinet posts. It is the principal democratic means of ensuring that decisions made by the council and its partners are held to account. In Staffordshire this is currently carried out by four overview and scrutiny committees:
- Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Please note: Cabinet and Scrutiny arrangements are determined by each new administration.
