Forward Plan
The Forward Plan on Key Decisions and Notice of any Intention
to meet in Private
What is the Forward Plan?
The Forward Plan sets out the key decisions which the Leader,
Cabinet, and individual Cabinet Portfolio Holders expect to take
over the next four months. Subject to urgency provisions the law
requires the Council to give at least 28 clear days notice ahead of
any key decision being taken under executive arrangements so that
people know about them and have the opportunity to read the related
report and background papers and to submit their views to the
decision maker.
The Forward Plan is available for public inspection at the
Council’s Offices and Information Centres. The information shown
includes the expected date the decision will be taken and the
identity of the decision maker, a list of the reports and
background papers to be considered by the decision maker, proposed
consultations, who you can make representations to and also if it
is to be a private/confidential item; if it is it will include the
reason for that being the case.
What is a 'Key Decision'?
Key decisions are defined in the Councils Constitution
as “an executive decision which is likely:
- to result in the local authority incurring expenditure which
is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard
to the local authority’s budget for the service or function to
which the decision relates; or
- to be significant in terms of its effects on communities living
or working in an area comprising one or more wards or electoral
divisions in the area of the local authority. For the purpose of
the above, savings or expenditure are “significant” if they are
equal to or greater than £500,000.”
Notice to Meet in Private
The Forward Plan provides notice of when the Cabinet may decide
to exclude the press and public from part of a meeting due to the
disclosure of confidential or exempt information and the reason for
this. In such cases Members of the Council and the public may make
representations about why a matter should be considered in public
by writing to the Democratic Services Team Manager using the
contact details below. The Leader and Cabinet will publish a
response to any representations received and, where applicable,
further notice of an intention to discuss the matter in private at
least 5 clear days before the Cabinet meeting.
Urgency Provisions
Where it has not been possible to meet the 28 day rule for
publication of notice of a key decision, or of an intention to meet
in private, the relevant notices will be published in the Forward
Plan as soon as possible with a reason for the late notification.
For any further information on the Forward Plan, reasons for an
item being considered as confidential or exempt - or to make
representations on that fact, contact Paul Jones
(Democratic Services Team Manager), or Cherry Foreman
(Democratic Services Officer).
Changes to the Forward Plan
Where it has not been possible to include
items on a previously published Forward Plan it was not known that
an agenda item was to be considered at the forthcoming Cabinet
meeting. Details of any additional items will be listed
below:
