Involvement with budgetary process

The Council undertakes a number of different measures to encourage public participation in the budget-setting process.

Details are set out below:

(a) State of the Area Debates

Each autumn, the Council convenes a number of State of the Area Debates.

Each debate is chaired by the Mayor, and these are normally held in venues in, respectively, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Seahouses and Wooler.

The purpose of the Debate is to report on key aspects of Council business and the way in which these affect the community. Typically, these issues will include the Council’s performance against targets and objectives, the budget, and priorities.

Details are open to the public. Members of the public are invited via notices in the media to put questions to the panel which normally comprises the Mayor, Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Directors.

Notes of the 2005 Debates can be found on the Council website (www.berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk – type ‘State of the Area Debate’ into the site search engine).

(b) Resource, Efficiency and Effectiveness Sub-Committee (REESC)

REESC is a sub-committee of full Council and its’ remit involves managing the outcome of the SIMALTO public consultation exercise, helping deliver and implement the Gershon Review and generally ensure the delivery of the Council’s medium-term financial strategy.

The Sub-Committee is open to members of the public except for those occasions when there is a requirement to consider an item in Part 2 (which means members of the press and public have to leave the meeting due to reasons of confidentiality under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(c) Full Council

The Council normally sets its budget for the forthcoming financial year every January.

The budget report is presented in open session and the meeting is open to the public.

(d) Policy Committees

The Council has two Policy Committees (Corporate Services and Regeneration Committee and Environment Committee at which budgetary decisions are made.

Again these meetings are open to the public except where items have to be considered in part 2 of the committee agenda (see (b) above).

Details of sub-committee, Policy Committee and Council meetings can be found on the Council website by clicking on ‘Meetings, Agendas and Minutes’ on the homepage of the Council website.

Further information can be obtained by contacting:

David Cook

Borough Secretary

Telephone x116/01289 301716