Council and committee meetings FAQs

This page aims to provide an overview of the Council’s committee arrangements and to answer frequently asked questions.

Details of Committee memberships and meeting dates, as well as other useful information, such as past and future agendas and reports, can be found on the main Council committees area.

Contents (You can click on a question to jump to that section of the page)

How are Council decisions made?

The Constitution sets out the governance arrangements of the Council, including how decisions are made, and the procedures to be followed by Council and its committees. 

Key decisions are announced in advance, and normally made in meetings open to the public (except where they contain exempt or confidential information). Other decisions may be delegated to officers (who work for the Council) in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation which can be accessed here.

How can I access Council and committee meeting papers?

All meeting agendas and papers can be accessed on our website. Some reports may be exempt from publication and if so the reasons for non-publication will be shown.

How do I know what will be considered at these meetings?

All the key decisions which Council or Cabinet expect to take over the next four months are set out in the Forward Plan. 

When and where do Full Council and its committees meet?

The calendar of Full Council and committee meetings is available here.  

Most meetings are in the evenings (6pm) and most are held in the Town Hall, Market Street.

Can I attend Full Council and its committees’ meetings?

Full Council and committee meetings are generally open to the public. However, some items on the agenda may be confidential and the public may be asked to leave for that item.

Meetings are normally recorded and may be video recorded. Please see the Council Policy on recording meetings.

What are the roles of the Council?

The Council is comprised of 30 Councillors with one third elected three years in four. The Mayor is the Chair of the Full Council.

Full Council determine the Council’s overall policy framework and sets the budget each year.

The Council appoints the Leader of the Council.

Can I ask Questions to Council?

Members of the public may put a maximum of two questions to Council (per meeting) at ordinary meetings of the Council. 

A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than two clear days before the day of the meeting. This is so the question can be considered and an informed response given at the meeting. The following schedule sets out the last day for submission of a question.

Day of Meeting

 

Monday

 5pm the previous Wednesday

Tuesday

 5pm the previous Thursday

Wednesday

 5pm the previous Friday

Thursday

 5pm the previous Monday

Friday

 5pm the previous Tuesday

Please email questionstocouncil-@tamworth.gov.uk to submit your questions.

You may attend the Full Council meeting to ask your questions (if delivered in accordance with the timescales) or you can ask the Mayor to put the question on your behalf.

Further details on the processes to be followed can be found in the Constitution.

What are the roles of the Cabinet?

Cabinet, often referred to as the Executive, is responsible for developing and implementing the Council’s budget and policy framework and overseeing the running of council services on a day-to-day basis. 

The Cabinet comprises seven Councillors including the Leader of the Council, who is the Chair of Cabinet. The members of Cabinet are allocated areas of responsibility (portfolios). The current areas of responsibility for each Cabinet member can be found here.

The Cabinet meets on a regular basis, usually every three weeks. 

Can I ask Questions to Cabinet?

Members of the public may put a maximum of one question to Cabinet at ordinary meetings of Cabinet. 

A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than two clear working days before the day of the meeting. The following schedule sets out the last day for submission of a question.

Day of Meeting

 

Monday

5pm the previous Wednesday

Tuesday

5pm the previous Thursday

Wednesday

5pm the previous Friday

Thursday

5pm the previous Monday

Friday

5pm the previous Tuesday

Please email questionstocouncil-@tamworth.gov.uk to submit your questions.

You may attend the Cabinet meeting to ask your question (if delivered in accordance with the timescales).

Further details on the processes to be followed can be found in the Constitution.

What are the roles of the Scrutiny Committees?

There are three overview and scrutiny committees which hold the Executive to account and support the work of the Executive and the performance delivery of the Council as a whole. Overview and scrutiny committees monitor the decisions of the Executive as well as being consulted by the Executive and Council on forthcoming decisions and the development of policy. Scrutiny committees will make recommendations on policy, budget making and delivery of services

The three overview and scrutiny committees are:

  • Corporate Scrutiny Committee
  • Infrastructure, Safety and Growth Scrutiny Committee
  • Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

These committees each meet approximately six times as year.

There is also a Joint Scrutiny Committee which meets annually to consider the Budget before presentation to Full Council.

What are the roles of the Regulatory Committees?

These committees make regulatory decisions on planning and licensing activities.  The members of Planning Committee and the Licensing Committee are appointed by Full Council. Licensing Sub-Committees are formed on an ad hoc basis to deal with specific issues.

At Tamworth there are the following regulatory committees:

  • The Planning Committee
  • The Licensing Committee; and
  • The Licensing Sub-Committee

What are the roles of the Audit and Governance Committee?

The Audit & Governance Committee has oversight of internal and external audit work, as well as the internal control environment.  It is also responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the Council’s risk management arrangements, and for monitoring the effectiveness of the Council’s policies in areas such as fraud, whistle-blowing and complaints handing. The Committee approves the annual statement of accounts.

The Audit and Governance Committee comprises councillors who are not members of Cabinet, nor a chair of any of the scrutiny committees.

The Committee meets approximately five times per year.

Can I ask questions at any other committee of the Council?

It is only at ordinary meetings of Full Council or Cabinet that members of the public can ask questions, in accordance with the procedures outlined above.

Contact details

For more information on Council and its committees, or attending meetings:

Email: democratic-services@tamworth.gov.uk
Telephone: 01827 709616
Postal address: Democratic Services, Tamworth Borough Council, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, Staffs, B79 7BZ