Birmingham City Council
Constitution
VOLUME A
THE CONSTITUTION
Website Updated - June 2014
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Birmingham City Council
Constitution
Article 10 - District Committees and Ward Committees This Article sets out details with regard to District Committees and Ward Committees consisting of the Members of that District or Ward. 10.1. Ten District Committees have been established by the Council and the relevant Ward Members have been appointed to serve on them:District Committee:
Area:
Members from the following Wards:
1. Edgbaston
South
Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton,
2. Erdington
North
Erdington, Tyburn
3. Hall Green
East
Hall Green, Moseley & Kings Heath, Sparkbrook and Springfield
4. Hodge Hill
East
Bordesley Green, Hodge Hill, Shard End and Washwood Heath
5. Ladywood
Central
Aston, Ladywood, Nechells and Soho
6. Northfield
South
Kings Norton, Longbridge, Northfield and Weoley
7. Perry Barr
Central
Handsworth Wood, Lozells & East Handsworth, Oscott and Perry Barr
8. Selly Oak
South
Billesley, Bournville, Brandwood and Selly Oak
9. Sutton Coldfield
North
Sutton Four Oaks, Sutton New Hall, Sutton Trinity and Sutton Vesey
10. Yardley
East
Acocks Green, Sheldon, South Yardley, Stechford & Yardley North
10.2
Kingstanding,
Stockland
Green
and
Ward Committees will be constituted in each District to encourage and facilitate dialogue, between the Council and local people within their Ward with a view to: (a)
ensuring that the needs of the Ward and key issues affecting local people are identified and assessed;
(b)
ensuring that such needs and issues are clearly expressed to, and considered by, the relevant Cabinet Member/Committees/Departments of the Council (or, where relevant, other public agencies); and
(c)
generally, maximising the influence of local people over the way in which the functions of the Council (or other public agencies) are discharged within the Ward.
(d)
to approve expenditure and services from whatever Budget may be allocated to their Ward, and in this regard to have all the necessary powers of the Council relevant to such approvals, provided that in exercising this delegation, the Ward Committee shall comply with all relevant procedures and requirements of the City Council. Page 2 of 4
Birmingham City Council
Constitution
(e)
to approve the establishment of Neighbourhood Forums and to make grants, from the Budget approved for this purpose, to Neighbourhood Forums.
(f)
as determined by the relevant Cabinet Member/Committee:(i)
to appoint representatives to serve on management committees of Council managed Youth and/or Community Centres and Community Service Advisory Committees;
(ii)
to nominate via the Council Business Management Committee, persons to serve on the management committees of voluntary organisations in receipt of grant aid from the Council;
except where such Centres, Committees or organisations have been agreed by the relevant Cabinet Member as servicing an area wider than a local community. 10.3
The membership of Ward Committees shall consist of those Members elected to serve that Ward. Once Ward Committees have been established, only the City Council can dissolve them. The Member of Parliament for the District should be invited to attend Ward and District Committee as an observer with the right to speak and there will be no co-opted members of the Ward Committee. Where a Ward Committee does not exist, the functions, powers, duties and terms of reference rest with the relevant District Committee.
EXECUTIVE POWERS DEVOLVED TO DISTRICT COMMITTEES 10.4
Cabinet has delegated the functions, operational powers and duties to the relevant District Committee(s) and all related decisions from the value of £100,000 in respect of a single decision by a District Committee up to a maximum financial limit of £1m (Revenue) as set out in Volume B. Executive Members for Local Services may make decisions and approve expenditure jointly with the relevant Chief Officer beween £100,000 and £500,000. These decisions will need to be reported to the District Committee.
10.5
Meetings Each District and Ward Committee shall meet at the start of each Municipal Year, and, thereafter, usually bi-monthly, alternating between District and Ward Committees. District Committee Meetings will take place at the Council House or as may be necessary at some other central Birmingham location to be determined by the Chief Executive. Executive Members for Local Services (EMLS) will be appointed by each District Committee at the first meeting of the municipal year. In the event of a District Committee failing to appoint an EMLS, the matter will be determined by the Leader of the Council. They will have a leadership responsibility for ‘place’ matters within their District including: Page 3 of 4
Birmingham City Council
Constitution
(i)
Effective discharge of the local executive remit, through delegations, of their District Committee.
(ii)
Production of an annual Executive Member for Local Services District Policy Statement and District Development Plan setting out locally determined priorities and policies for approval by the District Committee.
(iii)
Attendance at Cabinet meetings to voice local matters in relation to the executive decisions taken.
(i)
Attend Overview & Scrutiny to account for delegated responsibilities for the District Committee, including financial delegations and policy priorities as set out in policy statements and development plans.
Each District Committee will also hold an annual District Convention with input from community groups, partners and other stakeholders, to inform on District priorities arising from the Local Service District Policy Statement. 10.6
10.7
Quorum (a)
The Quorum for a District Committee shall be 6 Elected Members.
(b)
The Quorum for a Ward Committee shall be 2 members.
The Council will establish (or dissolve) Ward Committees on the recommendation of the Council Business Management Committee.
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