Constitution (895kb)
So who does what?
How are decisions made at the Council?
Constitution & Corporate Governance Statement
Who Does wWhat?
Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972, a three tier structure was established:
Norfolk County Council: Responsible for a range of areas from Education and Social Services to the Police and Fire.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council: Responsible for such matters as Council Tax and Business Rate Collection, Environmental Health and Planning.
Parish Councils: Undertake a limited range of statutory functions and also have a major role as a consultee on many important issues ie planning applications.
The Local Government Act 2000 sought to modernise Britain – with new forms of local governance, new political management structures for Councils including directly elected Mayors and a new ethical framework for local Government. The legislation enabled Councils to move to one of a range of new forms of local governance with:
a clearly identified Executive to give strong leadership to communities, and clarity to decision taking;
and powerful roles for all Councillors to ensure transparency and local accountability.
Following consultations with the Borough’s residents in 1999, it was decided that this Authority would operate the Executive (Cabinet) with Leader model of Local Government with Councillors outside the Executive being able to propose amendments to the budget to the Cabinet and/or Leader; propose new or changed policies to the Cabinet and/or leader; represent the electorate and scrutinise the Executive. Further details of the current Committee structure are included within the Constitution.
Constitution & Corporate Governance Statement
Code of Corporate Governance - Appendix A (144kb)
Annual Governance Statement 2007-08 (59kb)
How are decisions made at the Council?
The Council is made up of 39 Members with one third elected three years in four. Councillors are democratically accountable to the residents of their Wards. Whilst their overriding duty is to the whole community they also have a special duty to all their constituents including those who did not vote for them.
Decisions are taken by the full Council, the Executive, individual Executive (Cabinet) Members and also Officers. A list of the powers delegated to each of these is included within the Constitution.
Find out who are the Council's current Councillors
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