RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMITTEES AND FULL COUNCIL

Question

We have three discrete standing committees which to be frank are run to differing standards.  Apart from occasional over £5k spends there is little dialogue between them and the Full Council .   Is it usual for a Full Council to ask for a report from each committee  i.e. so that non members of the committee can raise questions. Should the principle be full delegation and empowerment or should the  Full Council always have a grip on everything that goes on in its name.  Indeed one could ask with so much delegation what is there left for the Full Council to do?  Also is a Clerks report similarly usually asked for

Answer 1

You will need to check out the committees terms of reference ( what powers they have and what job they do) which should have been written and agreed by full council when the committee was formed. It can range from investigating and reporting back to council for decision making to full authorisation to spend budgeted monies under their own decision making.

It is usual for committees to report their progress at council meetings if they have acted since the last meeting and again such requirements should be part of their terms of reference.

The council is there to ensure that everything the council does is according to statute and fiscal prudence of finances in the interest of the community that they were elected by and represent.