How decisions are made

Southwark Council has changed the way it makes decisions to make it easier for you to get involved and have your say.

It is 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, and is chaired by the Mayor of Southwark.

• Adopting and changing the constitution
• Approving the 'policy framework' (see below), the budget, and the 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

The 'policy framework' means the following plans and strategies

• Children and young persons plan
• Corporate plan
• Development plan documents (which form part of the development plan framework)
• Policy on community councils
• Sustainable community strategy
• Treasury management strategy (including prudential borrowing arrangements)
• Youth justice plan

Don't forget that you can go to the have your say page to find out more about asking a question at public question time or making a deputation.

You can also come to the democracy commission events to find out more about the Council Assembly and how your council works.

Find out when meetings are held and view meeting papers and decisions.