Newark & Sherwood District Council

How does the Council Work?

The Council is made up of 46 Councillors (or elected Members) who are elected every four years. Councillors are democratically accountable to the residents of the ward they represent.

Currently the Council comprises of:

Conservative and Newark and Sherwood Independent Alliance: 23 Members

Labour:15 Members

Independent: 4 Members

Liberal Democrats: 3 Members

1 Vacancy

All Councillors meet together as the Full Council and these meetings are open to the public.

Council Structure

Each year the council appoints committees to discharge certain functions on behalf of the council.  There is also a Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

Some councillors have additional responsibilities i.e. Leader / Deputy Leader of the Council; Leader of a Political Group, Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Council or a committee.

Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution (Responsibility for Functions) gives details of each of the above roles.

Committees

Policy Committee – will make key strategic decisions (other than those which must be determined by Council) including all decisions which have a major impact on a number of Council services or on the Council as a whole.

Economic Development Committee – will assist with policy development, implementation and review in respect of all areas falling within its remit including: Economic Regeneration and Transport; Fuel Poverty Strategy; Home Energy Conservation and Energy Conservation Plan; Energy management; Climate change including Mitigation (CO2 reduction); and Land Use Planning.

Leisure and Environment Committee – will assist with policy development, implementation and review in respect of all areas falling within its remit including developing and adopting policies and procedures in accordance with the Council’s: Cleaner, Safer, Greener Strategy; and the Council’s Leisure and Culture Strategy.

Homes and Communities Committee – will assist with policy development, implementation and review in respect of all areas falling within its remit including developing and adopting policies and procedures in accordance with the Council’s: Community Safety Strategy; the Council’s Emergency Plan and Responses to Flooding; and in relation to Housing.

Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution (Responsibility for Functions) gives a detailed explanation of each of the Committees remits, and responsibilities. 

The Council also has five regulatory committees:

Planning – considers all planning applications, appeals and planning contraventions. It also discharges all other functions relating to town and country planning and development control.

General Purposes – considers applications for hackney carriage and private hire licences.  It also deals with licensing functions other than those falling within the remit of the Licensing Committee and functions relating to parishes, elections and electoral registration.

Licensing - is required under the Licensing Act 2003 to discharge licensing functions such as issuing licences for the sale of alcohol and late night refreshments.

Audit and Accounts - oversees the council’s internal control framework and approve the council’s published accounts.

Standards - is responsible for the conduct of members of both district and parish council’s.

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