How the council assembly works
Southwark Council has changed the way it makes decisions to make it easier for you to get involved and have your say.
It's a legal requirement that local authorities make most of their important decisions in public. This openness underlines the accountability of elected members to the electorate. Any public body must ensure that the decisions it takes are lawful and evidence based. In accordance with this, when decisions are taken at a public meeting, councillors must demonstrate the high standards of conduct expected of them.
The council assembly is the meeting of all 63 elected councillors sitting on the council. It's chaired by the Mayor of Southwark.
Functions of the council assembly
- adopting and changing the constitution
- approving the 'policy framework' (see below), the budget and Council Tax
- appointing the leader and members of the Cabinet
- agreeing and amending the terms of reference for committees, the composition and appointments to committees
- appointing representatives to outside bodies
- adopting a members allowances scheme
- making, amending, revoking, re-enacting or adopting bylaws and promoting or opposing the making of local legislation
- approving licensing and gambling statements of policy
Policy framework
The 'policy framework' includes the following plans and strategies:
- children and young persons plan
- council plan
- development plan documents (forms part of the development plan framework)
- policy on community councils
- sustainable community strategy
- treasury management strategy (including prudential borrowing arrangements)
- youth justice plan
You can have your say by visiting our ask a question page to find out more about public question time or making a deputation.
Find out when meetings are held
View meeting papers and decisions
Page last updated: 06 January 2021
