Decision Making

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North Norfolk District Council is made up of 48 elected Members who represent different geographical areas throughout the District. At present they are elected every four years although the Government has indicated that consideration may be given to more frequent elections.

All Members of the Council meet together five or six times each year at Full Council meetings where the most important decisions (such as the Council budget, the level of Council Tax and Council rents) are made. The Council also operates through a system of committees, though there are fewer of these than there used to be in line with the Government's modernising agenda, which looks to streamline the operation of councils.

There is a Cabinet which considers matters of policy and finance either making decisions itself or, in controversial or very important matters, making recommendations to the Full Council. The Cabinet comprises the Leader of the Council and nine Members each responsible for certain portfolios. The Council also has a Scrutiny Committee which looks to ensure that the Council achieves best value in its operations and also has the power to look into and investigate the decisions of both the Cabinet and Officers of the Council.

The Council's planning functions are dealt with by the Development Control Committees, one for the West part of the District and one for the East. Those cases where the Council is asked to decide between two opposing cases are dealt with by a Judicial Board comprising usually three Members chosen from a panel of those trained in this type of work.

As well as operating through its committees, the Council has also delegated many of the day-to-day operations of the Council to its Chief Officers. Sometimes Officers can act on their own initiative but on other occasions are required to consult with or notify some or all Members of the Council so that elected Members retain control over the actions that are taken.