The roles and responsibilities of Councillors and Officers are clearly defined in the Standing Orders of the authority, the Scheme of Delegation of Powers to Officers of the Council, the Scheme of Tender Procedures and the Scheme of Financial Regulations.
The Council has corporate guidance on Recruitment and Selection and ensures that all officers involved are appropriately trained for their roles. Councillors' Professional Development is also available. Councillors on the Personnel Appointments Sub-Committee must undertake Fair Selection training. There is also further bespoke training For Elected Members sitting on the Licensing Committee and the Development Management Committee and Councillors have also received training on the Ethical Standards regime.
The Council has now adopted the Continuing Professional Development Framework for Elected Members developed by The Improvement Service.
The Scheme of Councillors Salaries and Expenses sets out the terms of Councillors' remuneration. Details of all Councillors' expenses are published on the internet and in the local press on an annual basis.
The Council's Chief Executive is responsible to the authority for all aspects of executive management.
The Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services and the Head of Democratic and Legal Services are responsible for ensuring that agreed procedures are followed and that all applicable statutes, regulations and statements of good practice are complied with.
The Director of Corporate Services is responsible for ensuring appropriate advice is given to the Council on all financial matters, keeping proper financial records and accounts and maintaining an effective system of internal financial control under the terms of the Financial Regulations.
The roles of senior officers are defined in agreed Job Descriptions. Staff performance is reviewed on an annual basis through Employee Performance and Development Review Schemes.
Job Descriptions have been produced for members in general and for the Leader of the Administration in particular.