Council

The Council meeting is the main formal decision-making body determining all issues that are not the function of The Cabinet and which it has not delegated elsewhere.   The full Council sets the budget and policy framework and has the overall management and financial responsibility for all parliamentary, electoral and constitutional matters within the District. It receives reports from The Cabinet and other meetings and deals with questions from elected members.   It is a major arena for debate and involvement and represents the views of the local community on matters of significance.   All 41 councillors meet together as the Council and at full Council meetings councillors decide certain Council policies and set the budget each year. The Council is also responsible for appointing the Leader, adopting and changing this Constitution or changing the name of the District. It is also the ultimate forum for holding The Cabinet and committees to account. At the autumn meeting of full Council there will be a State of the District debate held, with statements by, and questioning of, the Leader and The Cabinet.   The Council is keen to involve the public in debate and there is a scheme allowing the public the opportunity to ask questions at Council meetings. At ordinary meetings of the Council, members of the public may ask questions of members of The Cabinet or Committee Chairs at the specified point in the proceedings. Each questioner to be allowed no more than three minutes and no more than fifteen minutes in total will be allowed for this purpose. A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by electronic mail to the Head of Paid Service (at committeemanagers@stratford-dc.gov.uk) no later than midday two clear days before the day of the meeting.   Further guidance is provided under Council Procedure Rules (Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution): The Constitution   At special meetings of the Council oral representations can be made if notice has been given by the Head of Paid Service (which can be sent electronically to committeemanagers@stratford-dc.gov.uk) by not later than midday two clear days before the meeting, giving his/her/their name and address and the issue they wish to raise or speak on. A maximum of 3 minutes shall be allowed for each speaker and a maximum of 15 minutes shall be allowed for all representations. Representations shall be limited to the item(s) on the Agenda for which the meeting has been called.   Further guidance is provided via the Public Involvement in District Council meetings: Public Involvement in District Council Meetings   The Council comprises 41 councillors. The political make-up is 25 Liberal Democrats, 9 Conservatives, 3 Green Party, 2 Reform UK and 2 Independents.    The Council structure can be viewed here: Council Structure   Meetings of Council are recorded and can be found on the Stratford-on-Avon District Councils YouTube channel.