The Forward Plan

Introduction

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the Council is required to publish a notice setting out those key decisions to be taken by the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet, Cabinet Members and Officers at least 28 clear days before the decision is made.

In addition, the regulations require the Council to publish details of any decisions to be taken in private at a meeting of the Executive at least 28 clear days before the meeting.

What is a key decision?

"Key Decisions" are defined as those that are likely to

  1. to result in the relevant local authority incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the relevant local authority’s budget for the service or function to which the decision relates; or
  2. to be significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards or electoral divisions in the area of the relevant local authority.

For the purpose of (a) above, the Council has defined significant expenditure or savings as being in excess of £500,000 per annum.

The Forward Plan

The Forward Plan is used to provide the required 28-day notice of such decisions and this also includes decisions that are proposed to be taken over the next four months by the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet, Cabinet Members and Officers of the Council.

It is intended that, by publishing the Forward Plan residents will be able to find out the expected timing of key decisions, who will take them and also the consultation mechanisms available to them.

When will the Forward Plan be published?

The Forward Plan will be updated with the information set out above and will be published at least 28 days before the date of the Cabinet meeting to which it refers.

The Plan will be published on or before the following dates during the current municipal year:

Edition Date of Cabinet Publication Date for
Forward Plan of Key Decisions
June 2013 10 July 2013 11 June 2013
July 2013 7 August 2013 9 July 2013
August 2013 4 September 2013 6 August 2013
September 2013 9 October 2013 10 September 2013
October 2013 13 November 2013 15 October 2013
November 2013 11 December 2013 12 November 2013
December 2013 8 January 2014 10 December 2013
January 2014 12 February 2014 14 January 2014
February 2014 12 March 2014 11 Febrary 2014
March 2014 9 April 2014 11 March 2014

Latest Forward Plan

Confidential or Exempt information

The definition of what constitutes confidential or exempt information is contained within Chapter 8 of the Council's Constitution.

At least 28 clear days before a meeting where confidential or exempt information is to be considered, the Council will make available at the Civic Offices and on its website, a notice of its intention to hold all or part of a meeting in private, i.e., where the press and public are excluded.

Any such notice must include a statement of the reasons for the meeting to be held in private. Upon publication of this notice, representations may be received by the Council about why a particular decision should be open to the public. Any such representations should be made as follows:

In writing, addressed to:

By e-mail to: direct.democracy@thurrock.gov.uk.

At least five clear days before a private meeting, where the press and public are excluded from all or part of a meeting, the Council will make available at the Civic Offices and on its website a further notice of its intention to hold all or part of a meeting in private.

This notice must include a statement of the reasons for all or part of the meeting to be held in private, details of any representations received by the decision-making body about why the meeting should be open to the public, and, a statement of its response to any such representations made.

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