Councillors and Council Structure

Would you like to:

  • know who your local Councillor is?
  • contact your Parish Council?
  • Learn about the Council committees?
  • see the rules of behaviour for Councillors and our staff?
  • Put a question to the Council Leader?

You can find all this and more by using the links on the left.

If you need any help ring us on (01403) 215465 or email CommitteeServices@horsham.gov.uk


The Council's Role

The role of the Council is to:

  • Determine policy
  • Adopt specific policies e.g. Corporate Plan, Community Strategy, Local Development Framework
  • Approve a budget and borrowing
  • Appoint the Leader and Cabinet Members
  • Agree allowances for Councillors

The Cabinet consists of eight Councillors of the majority political party and is led by the Leader of the Council. Each Cabinet Member has responsibility for a particular area of the Council’s activity. Cabinet Members cannot be part of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee but can be part of other committees and are members of the full Council. Cabinet may take executive action and has a collective responsibility.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee has fifteen members. It can question, call for information on and comment on any decisions of the Cabinet; review and monitor internal and external services; review issues of local concern and monitor and scrutinise outside bodies such as financial advisors and utility suppliers. Its general areas of responsibility include asset management, best value, business improvement, budget, performance management and communications.

The Specific Committees deal with specific areas such as development control and licensing.

The Standards Committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of local government, and, as such, its role is to advise, educate, monitor and discipline.

Advisory Groups may be set up by individual Cabinet Members, the Cabinet or the Council. Working Groups, which may be created by the Scrutiny and Overview Committee also have an advisory role.

Non-executive Councillors, i.e. those who are not Cabinet members, have a range of roles including:

  • Representing their constituents
  • Acting together as the full Council
  • Membership of Ordinary Committees
  • Membership of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee
  • Membership of Advisory Groups to Cabinet Members.

More detail about how the Council is run can be found in the Council’s Constitution. 

Last Updated ( 12 May 2010 12:33 )