Councillors have to attend various meetings. They are expected to read the agenda and relevant reports for meetings beforehand. The amount of time a councillor spends going to meetings depends on how many committees and panels they are appointed to.
Meetings take place during the day and in the evenings. Your employer may give you paid time off to attend meetings. Evening meetings start at 6pm.
All 43 councillors attend full council meetings. These take place around every seven weeks. Major decisions are made at these meetings and members of the public are welcome to attend.
The Cabinet consists of eight councillors from the biggest political group on the council. They meet every five or six weeks. The Cabinet considers matters relating to the council’s major plans, strategies and policies. It also acts on the recommendations of the scrutiny panels.
The council’s scrutiny panels review decisions made by Cabinet members. They then make recommendations to improve services for the residents of North Lincolnshire.
There are also a number of committees. These are the Planning Committee, Licensing Committee, Standards Committee, Appeals Committee and Audit Committee.
Councillors also have a duty to represent the electors in their ward. Some hold ‘surgeries’ for residents to come along and discuss issues with them. However, most contact over individual issues is made by telephone.
Support provided to councillors
Councillors elected to serve on North Lincolnshire Council receive an allowance to cover the time they spend carrying out their duties. The council has a Councillors’ Allowances Scheme, which is reviewed regularly by an independent group. Councillors get additional allowances for holding positions with more responsibility.
Council officers also provide support to help councillors carry out their duties. This includes an induction and ongoing training.