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4.01 Meanings

(a) Policy Framework

The policy framework means the following plans and strategies:

• Best Value Performance Plan
• Community Strategy
• Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy
• Local Transport Plan
• Plans and strategies and alterations thereto which together comprise the Local Development Framework

The Council can adopt additional plans to form part of the policy framework.

(b) Budget

The budget includes:

(i) The allocation of financial resources to different services and projects

(ii) Provision of contingency funds, such as balances

(iii) Council Tax base

(iv) Setting the Council Tax

(v) Decisions relating to the control of the Council’s borrowing requirement

(vi) Overall control of the Council’s capital expenditure, and funding and

(vii) Setting of virement limits

(c) Housing Land Transfer

Housing Land Transfer means the approval or adoption of applications (whether in draft form or not) to the Secretary of State for approval of a programme of disposal of 500 or more properties to a person under Section 35 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 for the inclusion of a disposal in a disposals programme or for consent to that disposal under Section 32 (power to dispose of land held for the purposes of Part II) or Section 43 (consent required for certain disposals not within Section 32) of the Housing Act 1985.

4.02 Functions of the full Council

Only the Council will exercise the following functions. A more detailed list of functions is contained in Part 3, Appendix 1.

(a) Adopting and changing the Constitution;

(b) Approving or adopting the policy framework, the budget and any application to the Secretary of State in respect of any Housing Land Transfer;

(c) Subject to the urgency procedure contained in the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution, making decisions about any matter in the discharge of an Executive function which is covered by the policy framework or the budget where the decision maker is minded to make it in a manner which would be contrary to the policy framework or contrary to/or not wholly in accordance with the budget;

(d) Electing the Leader and Members of the Cabinet;

(e) Agreeing and/or amending the terms of reference for Committees, deciding on their composition and making appointments to them;

(f) Appointing representatives to outside bodies unless the appointment is a matter for determination by the Executive or has been delegated by the Council;

(g) Changing the name of the area, conferring the title of Honorary Alderman or the Freedom of the Borough;

(h) Adopting an Allowances Scheme under Article 2.05;

(i) Confirming the appointment of the Head of Paid Service;

(j) Making, amending, revoking, re-enacting, adopting or enforcing bylaws and the promotion of opposition to the making of local legislation or personal Bills;

(k) The making of agreements with other local authorities for the placing of staff at the disposal of those other authorities in relation to the discharge of functions which are not the responsibility of the Executive.

(l) Power to resolve not to issue a Casino Premises Licence.

(m) Functions in relation to the Council’s Licensing Policy. This includes the adoption of statements of principles in relation to Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permits or Prize Gaming Permits.

4.03 Council meetings

There are four types of Council meeting:

(a) the Annual Meeting;

(b) Ordinary Meetings;

(c) Extraordinary Meetings; and

(d) Special Meetings.

These will be conducted in accordance with the Council’s General Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution.

4.04 Responsibility for Functions

The Council will maintain the tables in Part 3 of this Constitution setting out the responsibilities for the Council’s functions which are not the responsibility of the Executive.

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