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Local democracy

How democracy works

Councillors represent their constituents' interests and work to serve the Borough as a whole. They will sit on various Committees and Panels within the Council, and some will represent the Council and the Borough on important outside bodies at local, regional and national levels.

The full Council of 51 members is responsible for setting the overall policy framework and the budget. It meets seven times a year at the Town Hall in Halifax, and its meetings are open to the public. You are welcome to attend.

The Council appoints a Leader and a Cabinet. The Council Leader chairs the Cabinet, which has six other Councillors as Members. Each has a portfolio of responsibility for part of the Council's services. Again, the meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to attend. A Forward Plan of key decisions that will be taken is published.

The Cabinet is given authority by the full Council to implement its policies within the budget set. The Cabinet has considerable freedom to make important decisions about how important services are delivered and to monitor the Council's overall performance. Each year the Cabinet will propose a budget for the full Council to consider. This is agreed in March each year and informs the billing process for the Council Tax.

There are five Scrutiny Panels charged with the task of critically examining aspects of how the Council is operating. The Panels do not have decision-making powers but they have the authority to 'call in' decisions taken by the Cabinet if they believe that further consideration on that decision would benefit the community of Calderdale. The panels can call upon officers, Councillors and outside experts to provide evidence to inform any recommendations they wish to make. The Cabinet is obliged to consider recommendations of Scrutiny Panels. If there is a failure to agree on an issue it can, ultimately, be referred to the full Council for a final decision.

Scrutiny Panels also examine existing policy and practice with a view to seeking to identify areas for improvement. Again, their recommendations will be considered by the Cabinet.

Day-to-day implementation of policy is undertaken by the Council staff. There are currently 7,400 excluding teaching staff. The structure mirrors the political portfolios of Cabinet members and a Director heads each of the five groups of services.

Local Government as a whole has undergone huge change in the last decade or so. Calderdale Council has welcomed and embraced the opportunity of new legislation to re-examine its role and how it operates. The partnership working involving other public, private and voluntary organisations, has led to more joined up services better able to meet local need. The Council was awarded 'Beacon' status in 2001 for its effective partnership working.

There are certain decisions about planning, licensing and regulatory matters which are not the responsibility of the Cabinet nor Scrutiny Panels. These matters are dealt with by the Planning Committee and the Licensing and Regulatory Committee. In addition there is a Standards Committee which oversees the probity of the Council's operation, and the Code of Conduct which the Councillors have agreed to follow to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their duties.

The Council is well equipped to meet the continuing challenge of modernisation and ensuring the provision of responsive relevant services for local people. In order to ensure that we continue to develop to the maximum of our potential, we will continue to need talented and committed people to serve as elected Councillors and employees of the Council. If you are interested in developing an involvement with the Council I would encourage you to do so. Information about Council jobs can be found on the web site. If you would like to talk to serving Councillors about being a Councillor, then you can contact the different party groups on the following numbers:

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