Dates and times of meetings
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| To find out the dates and times of any of the above meetings,
please download our Programme
of meetings 2011/12. |
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The Council's Constitution
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| The constitution is a statutory document,
containing details of how the council's decision making process
works |
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Executive Bulletin
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The Executive Bulletin is a list of
decisions taken by the Council's executive, portfolio holders or
area committees. It also lists those decisions to be taken by the
portfolio holder.
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Full Council
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All 60 members meet as the Full Council on at least six
occasions every year. The full council itself agrees our major
policies, the annual budget/level of council tax and approves our
constitutional arrangements.
See agendas and minutes for Full Council
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District Executive
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The District Executive has responsibility for all resource and
policy decisions within a framework agreed by the council. The ten
member executive, also known as the 'cabinet', gives strategic
direction to the council. It is also made up of the four portfolio
holders, who are responsible for the achievement of our corporate
aims.
See agendas and minutes for District Executive
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Joint Integration Committee
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Joint Integration Committees consist of five councillors from
both East Devon District Council and South Somerset District
Council. The aim of the committees is to find ways of sharing
services in order to make significant savings whilst perserving a
high quality of service to our residents.
See agendas and minutes for the Joint Integration Committee
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Area Committees
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We have four Area Committees (North, South, East and West),
which work closely with their local communities, allowing Planning
and other issues to be decided at a local level. Area Committees
form part of our ambitious and nationally acclaimed framework for
Area
Working.
Area Committees take decisions in public on significant planning
applications, invest in local projects, discuss issues of interest
and priority to the local area, and enable residents to get
involved in local decision-making.
See
Combined Area Forward Plan 2011-12
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Audit Committee
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Our Audit Committee monitors the effectiveness of our risk
management arrangements, its control environment (ranging from
standing orders, financial procedures, service plans, etc.) and
makes recommendations in respect of corporate governance
matters.
See agendas and minutes for Audit Committee
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Licensing Committee
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The Licensing Committee is responsible for our licensing
functions. Most day-to-day licensing (premises licences, taxi
licensing etc.) is delegated to officers but the committee has
responsibility for overseeing the our functions under the Licensing
Act 2003 and related licensing matters.
See agendas and minutes for Licensing Committee
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The Licensing Sub-Committee
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The Licensing Sub-Committee is made up of three members from the
Licensing Committee. The sub committee has been established under
the Licensing Act 2003, with the power to hear and determine all
applications referred to it under our Statement of Licensing
Policy. The Sub-Committee considers taxi driver applications, which
need to be referred to members due to the nature of the
application.
See agendas and minutes for Licensing Sub-Committee
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Regulation Committee
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The Regulation Committee determines planning applications
referred by Area Committees. The full scheme for reference of
planning applications is set out in the Council's Constitution.
See agendas and minutes for Regulation Committee
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Scrutiny Committee
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The Scrutiny Committee monitors and scrutinises our performance
as a whole as well as individual services. It can also make
recommendations for any issue we are responsible for and that which
affects the local community.
See agendas and minutes for Scrutiny Committee
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Standards Committee
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Our Standards Committee has responsibility for the promotion and
maintenance of good conduct by both district and parish
councillors.
See agendas and minutes for Standards Committee
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South Somerset Together (Local Strategic Partnership)
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South Somerset Together includes partners from the statutory,
voluntary and business sector. It seeks to identify needs and
opportunities, co-ordinate action, and influence priorities,
through the development and implementation of a community
strategy.
Find out more on the South Somerset Together
website
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How to have your say
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You are welcome to come along to any of our committee meetings,
whether it's just to observe the debates and decisions or to have
your say.
Council meetings and committees are open to the press and
public, except where personal or confidential matters are being
discussed.
Although members of the press and public are not permitted to
take part in the discussions, time is set aside during the meeting
for you to ask questions, make comments and raise matters of
concern.
How it works
- The Chairman is responsible for the orderly conduct of the
meeting. The meeting usually follows the order as printed in the
agenda, but the Chairman will also explain what is happening and
announce your name when the Committee is ready to hear your
comments.
- To make it known to the Chairman that you wish to speak during
the meeting, you will need to complete a slip, available at the
meeting, and hand this to the Committee Administrator, before the
meeting begins.
- You will be allowed a period of up to three minutes to voice
your concerns, which should be directed to the Chairman. You will
be invited to make these comments immediately after the report has
been introduced and before the committee begins its debate on the
item.
Top tips for public speaking
Clearly state your name, who you are representing and whether
you are a supporter or an objector.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Look at the committee - you will be much more effective if you
make eye contact.
- Prepare beforehand what you want to say so that your points
come across clearly and simply.
- Be brief - avoid talking too much and being repetitive.
- Try to relax - the committee is interested in what you have to
say.
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After the meeting
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If you have attended one of out council meetings, we'd like to
know what you thought of the experiemce and any suggestions you
might have to improve the experience.
Our aim is to increase public participation in our
decision-making processes, so your attendance, involvement and
feedback are welcomed.
Give us your
feedback
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Forward plan
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This is a new tool arising from the Local Government Act 2000,
to make decision making more transparent. The Forward
Plan will contain matters which the Leader has reason to
believe will be the subject of a key decision. The Forward Plan is
a list of forthcoming significant decisions to be taken by the
council's executive or bodies delegated with executive powers.
See Forward Plan
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