Article 2 - Elected members of the Authority
2.1 Composition and Eligibility
The Authority is made up of 36 Elected Members. The Authority is divided in to 12 wards 3 Elected Members are elected by the voters in each Ward in accordance with a scheme drawn up by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and approved by the Secretary of State. One of the Elected Members is appointed at the Annual Meeting of Full Council as the Chair of Council and also takes the title Ceremonial Mayor.
Only registered voters within the Authority’s area or those living or working there will be eligible to hold the office of Elected Member.
2.2 Election and terms of Elected Members
Each year an election for one seat in each Ward within the Authority’s area is held. This means that the election of a third of all Elected Members will be held each year except in every fourth year when no election is held. Where an ordinary election is held this will take place on the first Thursday in May in each election year.
The terms of office of Elected Members will be four years starting on the fourth day after being elected and finishing on the fourth day after the date of the regular election four years later.
2.3 Roles and functions of all Elected Members
The following sets out the key roles within the Authority:
All Elected Members will:
- Collectively, be the ultimate policy-makers of the Authority to determine the budget and agree the plans and strategies set out in the Budget and Policy framework;
- Represent their communities and bring their views into the Authority’s decision-making process, i.e. become the advocate of and for their communities; but will make decisions taking into account the best interests of the Borough.
- Contribute to the good governance of the area and actively encourage community participation and people involvement in decision making;
- Where Members represent a parished area they will engage with the Parish Council and, where possible, attend Parish Council meetings to ensure open communication and strengthen relationships;
- Effectively represent the interests of their ward in dealing with individual casework constituents acting as an advocate and balancing the different interests fairly and impartially;
- Be available to represent the Authority on other bodies; and
- Maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics as the public would expect of their elected representatives in accordance with the Principles of Public Life and the Authority’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members.
2.4 Rights and duties
- Elected Members will have such rights of access to documents, information, land and buildings of the Authority as are necessary for the proper discharge of their functions and in accordance with the law and the provisions of this Constitution.
- Elected Members will not make public any information that is confidential or exempt (defined in the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution) without the consent of the Authority and will not divulge information given in confidence to anyone other than an Elected Member or Officer entitled to know it.
2.5 Conduct
Elected Members will at all times observe the Code of Conduct for Elected Members and Co-opted Members and the Protocol on Elected Member/Officer Relations set out in Part 5 of this Constitution.
2.6 Allowances
Elected Members will be entitled to receive allowances in accordance with the Members’ Allowances Scheme set out in Part 6 of this Constitution.
2.7 Member Development
The Authority is committed to developing Elected Members by providing learning and development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge supporting effective community leadership and the undertaking of Council business. The Authority’s Member Development Programme is designed to provide a range of awareness and training opportunities. Elected Members are required to attend training in accordance with the Member Development Programme.