The Council is the ultimate decision
making body of Brentwood Borough Council and the principal forum
for major political debate. All 37 Councillors who have been
elected to represent the borough attend the Council
meeting.
The Council decides the overall
objectives, major policies and financial strategies of the Council.
It also considers recommendations from the Scrutiny and Regulatory
Committees on issues of significance.
Through the Constitution, it delegates
responsibility for carrying out many of the Borough Council’s
functions and policies to its committees. It also agrees the
membership of the committees/sub-committees.
Only the Council will exercise the following
functions:-
a)
adopting
and approving changes to the
Constitution;
b)
adopting and amending
Contract Standing Orders and Financial Regulations;
c)
agreeing and/or
amending the terms of reference for committees and any joint
committees, deciding on their composition chairmanship and making
initial appointments to them;
d)
appointing
representatives to outside bodies and consultative groups unless
the appointment has been delegated by the Council;
e)
adopting and amending
a members’ allowances scheme under Chapter 6;
f)
to elect the Leader
and Deputy Leader of the Council;
g)
to designate the
Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Council;
h)
adoption of the Code
of Conduct for Members;
i)
electoral and
ceremonial matters relevant to the Council
j)
changing the name of
the area, conferring the title of honorary alderman or freedom of
the borough;
k)
setting the
Council’s Budget and Council Tax
l)
approving the making
of a virement or payment from the Council’s reserves for
values exceeding £200,000;
m)
approving of the
Council’s Corporate Plan;
n)
approving or adopting
the Council policies and strategies which form the policy
framework;
o)
making, amending,
revoking, re-enacting or adopting bylaws and promoting or opposing
the making of local legislation or personal Bills;
p)
confirming the
appointment or dismissal of the Head of Paid Service; Monitoring
Officer; and Section 151 Officer;
q)
to consider reports on
cross cutting matters not expressly delegated to another
committee;
r)
all other matters
which by law must be reserved to Council;
Questions from the public
Public Question Time takes place at every Ordinary council
meeting.