The Planning Committee comprises 15 councillors and is responsible for deciding planning applications and related matters which have not been dealt with by Council staff under delegated authority. The Planning Committee meets every four weeks.
The Leader is responsible for appointing the deputy Leader and lead councillors and will allocate their areas of responsibility. Together they form the Cabinet.
The Licensing Committee comprises 15 councillors and is responsible for discharging the Council's licensing functions under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005. The Committee also deals with the licensing of taxis and private hire cars, street trading, food and water safety, health and safety, animal establishments and street and house collections. The Licensing Committee is scheduled to meet every four weeks if necessary.
The Licensing Sub-Committee conducts hearings mainly in respect of contested applications under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005.
The Members Code of Conduct Committee comprises 8 borough councillors and 2 independent (non-voting) co-opted members of the public. It is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by councillors and any co-opted members of the Council. The Committee will also hear and respond to any alleged cases of misconduct.
The Audit Committee is made up of 7 councillors and its main purpose is to give independent assurance to elected members and the public about the governance, financial reporting and performance of the council. It also scrutinises the Council's financial management and reporting arrangements and provides an independent challenge to what the council has in place. The Audit Committee oversees a number of control strategies such as corporate risk management, the authority's governance arrangements and assurance statements, and anti-fraud and anti-corruption arrangements. It helps raise the profile of these issues within the Council, as well as providing a forum for the discussion of issues raised by internal and external auditors. In this way, it enhances public trust and confidence in the financial governance of a local authority.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee comprises 15 non-Cabinet councillors who together discharge the functions of overview and scrutiny (as conferred by Sections 21 and 21A of the Local Government Act 2000 and regulations made under Section 32 of the Local Government Act 2000), as a critical friend in relation to the development of policies and strategies to meet local needs and in relation to service delivery and performance management.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is also the Council’s designated crime and disorder committee under Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.
Corporate Policy and Resources Committee
The Corporate Policy and Resources Committee consists of 15 councillors comprisingthe Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Service Committees and with the Leader and Deputy Leader appointed as Chair and Vice-Chair of this Committee.
Meetings take place seven times a year to discuss:
· The Council’s annual budget including the capital and revenue budgets, prudential controls and council tax, and to make recommendations to Council on these.
· The Council’s financial strategies, plans and regulations.
· The Council’s community and corporate plans and to make recommendations to Council on these.
· The Council’s Policy Framework and to make recommendations to Council accordingly.
· Revenues and benefits.
· Performance management, Project management and service delivery options/transformation.
· Property asset management including investment, purchases and disposals, and compulsory purchases.
Environment and Sustainability Committee
· Planning policy
· The Local Plan
· Waste strategy and management
· Recycling
· Biodiversity
· Climate change – including air quality, carbon management, mitigation and adaptation measures
· Public Health functions
· Parks, open spaces and allotments
· Emergency planning
· The exercise by the relevant authorities of the flood risk management functions which may affect the Council’s area.
The Economic Committee consists of 9 councillors. Meetings take place five times a year to discuss:
· Economic development, business partnerships and town centre viability & regeneration
· Heathrow liaison
· Business transformation, support and inward investment
· Tourism
· Transport
Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee
The Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee consists of 13 councillors. Meetings take place five times a year to discuss:
· Leisure, libraries, arts, sports and culture
· Community development and engagement
· Voluntary sector strategy and liaison
· Housing policy & strategy
· Housing options, advice and benefits
· Affordable housing and homelessness
· Private sector and social housing enforcement
· Home Improvement Agency
· Grants to outside bodies
· Education and young people
· Services for older people
· Day centres
· Supported living independently – including meals on wheels
· Family support
· Disability issues and grants
Neighbourhood Services Committee
· Street cleansing services
· Street Scene
· Parking Services
· Customer Services and consultation
· Building Control
· Cemeteries
· Community safety and crime & disorder (dependant on O&S inclusion)
· Civil Enforcement (JET)
· Environmental protection – including food safety & enforcement
· Health & Safety enforcement
· Consumer protection, licensing, trading standards and environmental health matters
· Planning enforcement
Administrative Committee
· Corporate Services including Communications, Legal Services, ICT, Democratic Services and Electoral Services
· Human Resources, personnel, pensions and administrative arrangements