Council and Committees
The Council's main Committees are:
Executive Board
Development Control Committee
Planning Inspections Committee
Scrutiny Committee
Corporate Overview
Housing Review Board
Licensing and Enforcement Committee
Audit and Corporate Governance Committee
Standards Committee
The Work of the Council & Committees
East Devon District Council adopted a new constitution and committee system in May 2002. Click this link to view a timetable of all main Committee Meetings.
The work of the full Council includes deciding overall policies, setting budgets, agreeing constitution changes and appointing the Leader, Deputy Leader and the Executive Board.
Council
Full Council meetings are held four times a year. The annual meeting is held in May to elect the Council committees and to appoint the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the Council Leader. The full Council is the only body which has the power to amend the Council's constitution, change policy and to appoint Council committees. Council minutes and agendas, as well as all other committee meeting minutes and agendas can be found on the Committee Papers page.
Executive Board
Responsible to the Council, the Executive Board makes operational decisions and recommends new policies. Many of its operational functions are delegated to six Executive Councillors known as Portfolio Holders, who sit on the board.
Development Control Committee
Most planning decisions, (around 90 per cent), are made by Planning Officers, acting with delegated powers. Major decisions or controversial planning applications are however, referred to the Development Control Committee. The committee either decides the application or refers it to the Planning Inspections Committee.
Scrutiny Committee
The Executive Board decisons are checked and examined by the Scrutiny Committee.The committee can call in any decision made by the Executive Board or a Portfolio Holder and ask for that decision to be reconsidered. The Committee can also advise the Executive on a course of action thereby assisting with policy development.This control ensures that all councillors have responsibility for ensuring the Council operates for the benefit of the people of East Devon.
Corporate Overview Committee
The Executive Board reports to the full Council, but its work is assited by the work of the Corporate Overview Committee. The Corporate Overview Committee can examine any area of policy by researching and calling expert witnesses to meetings. The committee then reports its findings back to the Executive Board usually with a recommendation, thereby assisting with policy development.
Housing Review Board
This acts as an overview committee and considers matters relating to the Council's landlord and housing management functions.
Other Committees
Other committees, including Licensing and Enforcement, carry out semi judicial functions.
The Audit and Corporate Governance Committee provides an independent assurance of the adequacy of the Council’s corporate governance arrangements.
The Council also has a Standards Committee. This committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct of Councillors and co-opted members.
The Council also works in partnership with other public service bodies including Devon County Council, Devon Primary Care Trust (health service), the Police and the voluntary sector. This partnership working helps the Council achieve its wider goals.
Public Access to Meetings
Members of the public are welcome to attend any meeting for the duration of matters listed under ‘Part A’ of the agenda. If you have specific needs e.g. mobility problems you will find that the civic suite, including the main Council Chamber and Committee Room, are on ground level with no steps providing easy wheelchair access. For meetings held in the Council Chamber, a hearing loop is active. Hearing aid users please switch to the ‘T’ position.
More information about the Council and its Committees is available from the Democratic Services Section on (01395) 517546.
