The Council operates a Cabinet system of administration, with a Scrutiny Committee holding the Cabinet to account. The Scrutiny Committee also assists with policy and development and carries out reviews of some new projects.
The Amber Valley Borough Council constitution sets out how these arrangements operate, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.
The Constitution is divided into 16 Articles which set out the basic rules governing the Council’s business. More detailed procedures and codes of practice are provided in separate rules and protocols at the end of the document.
What’s in the Constitution?
Article 1 of the Constitution commits the Council to the efficient delivery of services in an open and accountable system of government. Articles 2-16 explain the rights of citizens and how the key parts of the Council operate.
These are:-
• Members of the Council (Article 2).
• Citizens and the Council (Article 3).
• The Full Council meeting (Article 4).
• Chairing the Council (Article 5).
• The Scrutiny Committees (Article 6).
• The Cabinet (Article 7).
• Regulatory and other Committees (Article 8).
• The Standards Committee (Article 9).
• Partnerships (Article 10).
• Joint arrangements (Article 11).
• Officers (Article 12).
• Decision making (Article 13).
• Finance, contracts and legal matters (Article 14).
• Review and revision of the Constitution (Article 15).
• Suspension, interpretation and publication of the Constitution (Article 16).
