Committees and their Membership

Opens in a new windowListed below is the political structure relevant to the Full Council, Executive and Committee arrangements at Surrey Heath. To read this document you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is free to download Opens in a new window

The full terms of reference of each of the bodies shown above is set out in the Council's Constitution. The Constitution details the Council's main working arrangements and is kept updated to reflect new working practices and changes in the law. Set out below is a brief summary of what each body does. View the Constitution.

Council
Full Council is at the centre of decision making. All 40 councillors are collectively responsible for setting the Council's annual budget, major policies and the Council Tax levels each year. It meets approximately every eight weeks.

Members of the public may, with prior notice, ask questions of members of the Executive or chairmen and present petitions.

View Public Speaking at Council
View a list of the Members of the Council

The Executive

The Leader has responsibility for all Executive of functions of the Council. The Leader has informed the Council that she will exercise those functions collectively through the Executive until further notice. The Executive makes the majority of service decisions and will implement policy. Seven members of the majority party form the Executive. They each have individual responsibilities (called portfolios), but make collective decisions. Many decisions are taken by senior officers under delegated powers. Any matters which are outside the terms of reference of the Executive will be taken by the full Council or a Committee. The Executive meets every three weeks.
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Planning Applications Committee
The Planning Applications Committee determines those planning applications and related matters which have not been dealt with by officers. It meets every four weeks, usually on a Monday.

Members of the public can speak at the committee in accordance with the Council's public participation scheme.

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View public speaking at Planning Applications Committee

Standards Hearing and Determination Committee
This Committee ensures that borough and parish councillors continue to meet high standards of ethics and probity, and may deal with complaints made against councillors.

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Licensing Committee
The Licensing Committee deals with public entertainment and environmental health matters, taxi licensing, Health and Safety at Work, the licensing of premises and all the licensing function under the Licensing Act 2003 in relation to the supply of alcohol, the provision of entertainment and late night refreshment.
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The Licensing Sub-Committee
To consider, in the light of representations received, applications for licences that are required under the Licensing Act 2003 to undertake licensable activities including supplying alcohol, prividing entertainment and late night refreshments.

Scrutiny Committees
The Council has set up three scrutiny committees to undertake the overview and scrutiny of the Council's decision-making processes. The responsibilities of the Scrutiny Committee include:

• developing and reviewing policy
• holding the Executive to account

However the Scrutiny Committees do not take any decisions.

Each committee will meet at least five times a year.

No member of the Executive may be a Member of a Scrutiny Committee.

To help the scrutiny committees and to assist the Executive, the Council has set up various Working Groups to consider subjects in more detail.  The Council has also joint bodies with outside organisations.

• View a list of Members of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee Opens in a new window
• View a list of Members of the External Partnerships Select Committee Opens in a new window
• View a list of Members of the Performance & Audit Scrutiny Committee Opens in a new window

 

Selection Committee
To consider the appointment of Councillors to outside bodies and organisations on which the Council is represented.  The Selection Committee meets once a year.

Appointments Committee
The Appointments Committee will make appointments for senior officers. It will also make recommendations to the full Council in respect of the appointment of the Chief Executive, as Head of Paid Service. Due to the personal nature of the matters discussed, the Committee is not open to the public.
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Joint Staff Consultative Group/Appeals Committee
These two bodies deal with staff matters such as terms and conditions of employment and are not open to the public.