Worthing Borough Council's and Adur District Council's Vision and Key Objectives

• To protect and enhance priority services.
• To promote a clean and green environment.
• To revitalise, regenerate and create lively economies.
• To support and contribute to the health, safety and wellbeing of the area.

The Council

Worthing Borough Council adopted its new Constitution in July 2001 following the Government’s requirement under the Local Government Act 2000 for Councils to modernise their decision making processes.  

There are 37 Councillors representing the 13 Wards in the Borough.  

The Council's Cabinet is comprised of seven members: Leader and Members for Regeneration, Resources, Clean and Green Environment, Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Improved Customer Services and Business Modernisation. Most major decisions are taken by either the full Cabinet sitting together or by one of the seven individual Cabinet Members. Issues relating to the “Policy Framework” – e.g the Budget – are dealt with by full Council.

The Cabinet, the Council and the various Committees meet formally at least once every eight weeks and the public are welcome to attend these meetings. There is an opportunity at the beginning of these meetings for members of the public to ask questions. The Cabinet Members do not hold formal meetings, however, a regular weekly bulletin is circulated advising the public of reports under consideration and decisions that have been taken. The Cabinet Members also consult as widely as possible with interested parties before taking important decisions.

No decision can be acted upon until five days after its publication, unless there are urgent or exceptional circumstances. Any three Councillors may ‘call-in’ a decision with which they are not in agreement as long as they do so within the five-day period.

If a decision is called in it is referred to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, whose recommendation is considered by the Cabinet or appropriate Cabinet Member before a final decision is taken. This final decision cannot be called in again.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may also hold in-depth reviews or consider any issues within the Council’s responsibility, but it may only make recommendations and cannot take decisions.

The exceptions to this are the Council’s two regulatory committees - Development Control Committee and Licensing and Control Committee - which determine planning and licensing applications respectively, a General Purposes Committee and a Standards Committee.

For further details please select from the appropriate section on the left navigation.

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