Article 8 - Regulatory and other committees
8.1 Regulatory and other Committees
Full Council will appoint Committees to undertake a variety of regulatory and other functions that are the responsibility of the Authority. These Committees are set out below:
(a) Audit and Governance Committee
The Audit and Governance Committee promotes the Authority’s internal governance and financial control and approves the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts and Treasury Management Strategy. The Committee is made up of 10 Elected Members and is chaired by an Elected Member who is not from the majority political group (if any). The Audit and Governance Committee is there to make sure that the Authority manages its budget and finances in a proper and prudent way. It looks at the work of the Authority’s internal auditors and reviews the plans of the external auditor and the internal audit team to ensure that audit work is co-ordinated.
The Committee promotes the maintenance of high standards of conduct by Elected Members and additional independent members are included when standards issues are considered.
The Audit and Governance Committee also acts as the statutory scrutiny committee of the Council in relation to the provision and operation of health services and is also designated as the Authority’s ‘Crime and Disorder Committee’.
(b) Appeals Committee
The Appeals Committee is responsible for considering staffing matters including appeals against dismissals and staffing reviews/restructures.The Committee is made up of 5 Elected Members plus a non-statutory co-opted Independent Person who are appointed by Council.
(c) Planning Committee
The Planning Committee manages the Authority’s planning services. It meets every four weeks to consider any significant planning applications or to examine and resolve objections to planning applications which have been received.
(d) Licensing Committee
The Licensing Committee meets every three months and manages the Authority’s licensing services and licensing policy including alcohol licences (for pubs, clubs and retail outlets) and taxi and private hire drivers’ licences. Much of the committee’s work is done by the Licensing Sub-Committees (Licensing Act Sub-Committee and Regulatory Sub-Committee. These sub committees meet as and when they are required.
Full Council will appoint such other Committees or Sub-Committees as it considers appropriate to exercise any of its functions.
The responsibilities of these Committees are contained in Part 3 of this Constitution.
8.2 Advisory bodies
Full Council will appoint the advisory bodies set out in Part 7 of this Constitution. Full Council or a Policy Committee may from time to time establish a Working Group or ad hoc panels, the membership being drawn from Elected Members of the Authority and/or non-voting co-optees. The proceedings and recommendations or advice from such group or panel shall be reported to the appropriate Policy Committee. No Committee or Sub-Committee can delegate its function to any such group or panel.