4.1 Meanings

(a) Policy Framework

The policy framework means the following plans and strategies:

• The Council’s Strategic Plan;
• Best Value Performance Plan;
• Community Strategy;
• Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy;
• Youth Justice Plan;
• Structure Plan; Minerals Local Plan; Waste Local Plan and strategies which together comprise the Development Plan;
• Local Transport Plan;
• Local Agenda 21 Strategy;
• Community Care Plan;
• Quality Protects Management Action Plan;
• Children’s Services Plan;
• Education Development Plan;
• Early Years Development Plan;
• School Organisation Plan;
• Special Educational Needs Plan;.
• Behaviour Support Plan;
• Adult Learning Plan;
• Annual Library Plan;
• School Transport Plan;
• Food Law Enforcement Service Plan; Trading Standards Service Plan (including a Food Law Enforcement Plan).

(b) Budget Framework

The budget is an annual process by which financial resources are allocated to different services and projects, contingency funds are earmarked, the council tax precepts required from each District Council are approved, together with the consequent level of council tax for each of the property valuation bands, and decisions are made relating to the control of the Council’s borrowing requirements, the control of its capital expenditure and virement limits.

(c) Rules

The Policy and Budget Framework Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution set out in more detail how policies are approved and the budget is adopted.

4.2  Functions of the full Council

Only the Council exercises the following functions:

(a) adopting and changing the Constitution;

(b) adopting or amending the policy framework;

(c) adopting or amending the budget;

(d) determining and keeping under review how much money it can afford to borrow;

(e)  subject to the urgency procedure contained in the Access to Information Procedure Rules in Part 4 of this Constitution, making decisions about any matter where the Executive, an Executive Member or another Committee proposes to act in a manner which would be contrary to the policy framework or contrary to/or not wholly in accordance with the budget;

(f) appointing the Leader of the Council;

(g) agreeing and/or amending the terms of reference for committees, deciding on their composition and making appointments to them;

(h) appointing representatives to outside bodies unless the appointment is an Executive function or has been delegated by the Council;

(i) adopting an allowances scheme under Article 2.6;

(j) changing the name of the area and conferring the title of honorary alderman;

(k) confirming the appointment of the Head of the Paid Service;

(l) making, amending, revoking, re-enacting or adopting bylaws and promoting or opposing the making of local legislation or personal Bills;

(m) all other matters which, by law, must be reserved to Council;

(n) deciding whether or not to accept any proposed delegation of functions from another local authority.

4.3 Council meetings

There are three types of Council meeting:

(a) the annual meeting;

(b) ordinary meetings;

(c) extraordinary meetings;

and they are conducted in accordance with the Standing Orders (Council Procedures) set out in Part 4 of this Constitution.

4.4 Responsibility for functions

The Council will keep up to date Part 3 of this Constitution setting out how responsibilities for the Council’s functions are delegated and exercised.

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