The Council comprises 39
councillors all elected every four years. The next District Council
election is in May 2023. Councillors are democratically accountable
to the residents of their ward. The overriding duty of councillors
is to the whole community, but they have a special duty to their
constituents, including those who did not vote for them.
Councillors have to agree to abide by a Code of Conduct to ensure
high standards in the way they undertake their duties. All
councillors meet together as the Council. Meetings of the Council
are normally open to the public and start at 4pm. At Council
meetings, councillors decide the Council's overall policies and set
the budget and level of Council Tax each year. The Council appoints
the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet and other committees and
panels. It is responsible for changes to the Council's Constitution
and the various codes and protocols contained in it.