How decisions are made

Details of emergency officer decisions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on Emergency officer decisions.

The Constitution

As required by the Local Government Act 2000, the Council has a Constitution, based on a leader and cabinet model of executive. The Constitution explains:

• how the Council operates
• how decisions are made
• who makes decisions
• the procedures and processes followed in making decisions

Council

The ultimate decision-making body for North East Lincolnshire Council business is the full Council which is made up of all 42 elected Councillors.

Decisions on the setting of the Council’s budget and adoption of key strategies (as contained within the Council’s ‘policy framework’) are taken by the full Council. However, if it is not practical for Full Council to meet to determine every single decision that needs to be made, so the Council has scheme of delegation of decision-making.

Full Council meets every eight weeks at either Grimsby or Cleethorpes Town Hall.

Cabinet

Key decisions which are those with a significant impact are made by the Council’s Cabinet.

The Cabinet is made up of between three and ten Elected Members appointed by the Leader of the Council. Each cabinet member has responsibility and individual decision making powers for a ‘portfolio’ of particular services.

The forward plan of key decisions

Decisions to be taken by Cabinet and the ‘portfolio holders’ are published, in advance, with the forward plan of key decisions.

Scrutiny

There is a process of overview and scrutiny to make sure that Councillors are fully accountable for their decisions. This process allows Elected Members who are not on the Cabinet to act as a check and balance to the council’s decision makers and to contribute to the development of future policies and strategies that will help improve services for local people.

Regulatory and other Committees

Decisions about certain entertainment licensing and planning functions are determined by the Council’s Licensing and Community Protection Committee and the Planning Committee respectively.

The Standards and Adjudication Committee has responsibility for decisions relating to the conduct of Elected Members and to consider appeals against dismissal and grievances by employees of the Council.

The Audit and Governance Committee has responsibility to monitor the Council’s financial controls as well as its risk management, anti-fraud and partnership governance arrangements.

The Appointments Committee takes decisions relating to the recruitment, pay and terms and conditions of Chief Officers of the Council. It also determines staff pensions and redundancy matters.

Health and wellbeing board

This Board has been established to join-up commissioning and services across the NHS, social care, public health and voluntary sector to benefit the health and wellbeing of local people.

Officer decisions

Details of decisions taken by Officers of the Council which must be published in accordance with legislation.

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, a written statement of officer decisions made in connection with the discharge of executive functions must be published as soon as reasonably practicable after they are made.

This statement must include, in respect of every decision:

• a record of the decision including the date it was made
• a record of the reasons for the decision;
• details of any alternative options considered and rejected by the officer when making the decision;
• a record of any conflict of interest declared by any Executive Member (Cabinet Member) who is consulted by the officer which relates to the decision; and
• in respect of any declared conflict of interest, a note of dispensation granted by the Council’s Chief Executive (the “head of paid service”).

In the case of “key decisions” (as defined in those regulations) taken on the grounds of urgency, the agreement of the Chairman of the relevant Scrutiny Panel has been obtained that the making of the decision is urgent and cannot be deferred.

Associated documents relating to any executive decisions which contain “exempt information” as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), cannot be made available for public inspection and are therefore not published on the website in accordance with Regulation 20(3) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Details of decisions taken by officers to grant licences are published below, as required under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014.

Officer decision records

Accessibility

Parts of these older documents and reports produced by third parties may be inaccessible. If you would like an alternative version providing then you can request this by email at [email protected] or by phone on 01472 324121.

Contact details

Democratic Services, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN31 1HU

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01472 324121

Opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except bank holidays