Elected Members and Political Structure

Elected Members

Surrey Heath Borough Council is a Conservative lead Council and consists of 40 members (increased from 36 in May 2003) who are elected by voters in each of the 16 electoral wards.

The political balance of the Council is:

• 35 Conservative Members
• 1 Liberal Democrat Member
• 2 Labour Members
• 2 Independent Member

(The residents of the Borough, in separate elections, also vote to elect six members to represent them at Surrey County Council see www.surreycc.gov.uk/members/membook.nsf/webSelectMember?openform Opens in a new window )

Leader of the Council

With effect form 9 May 2011 the Council has adopted the Strong Leader Model of Executive arrangements. The Leader was elected by members at the Annual Council meeting on 18 May for a 4 year term of office. The Leader holds all the Executive powers. The Leader has appointed a Deputy Leader and 5 other members to be portfolio holders and to form the Executive.

Political Balance

Apart from the Executive and the Standards Committee all committees of the Council must be politically balanced. The membership of the committees is agreed by the Council on the nomination of the leaders of the party groups.

Decisions

Decisions are taken by the Full Council, its Committees, the Leader and, subject to delegations, by the Executive and Portfolio Holders. In addition some decisions are taken by officers and these are set out in the Scheme of Delegation of Functions to Officers at Part 3 of the Constitution.