About the council
We pride ourselves on our care for the borough. Wandsworth enjoys a reputation for competence and efficiency with our services able to claim a record 25 Charter Mark quality awards across all the departments - Administration, Education, Finance, Housing, Leisure and Amenity Services, Social Services and Technical Services.
Above all we offer our residents the best possible value for money. This year average council tax levels are the lowest in the UK. This is a twenty year record of good house-keeping which is unmatched by any other authority.
The full council comprises 60 elected members (councillors) representing 20 wards with the election of members held every four years (the next one will be in May 2010). Following the May 2006 elections the council consists of two political groups. The Wandsworth Conservatives Group has 51 members; the Labour Group has 9 members with control of the council being held by the Conservative group.
Some of the council's committees, Children and Young People's Services and Standards, include some co-opted members. For further details of the composition and function of the Executive and the various committees appointed by the Council, please see How decisions are made.
Leader and cabinet
In September 2001 the council adopted the leader and cabinet model of 'executive arrangements' defined in the Local Government Act 2000. This means that the responsibility for decision making on most services (e.g. education, highways, housing, leisure, libraries, parking, refuse collection, street cleansing and social services) now rests with an Executive or Cabinet of eight leading members of the council. However, the full Council remains the forum where the council's budget and overall policy framework are set and where members meet to debate issues of importance and question Cabinet members and committee chairmen.
What can I find out?
This section of the website will introduce you to who your councillors are, how decisions are made by the council, the performance measurements that the council produces and other matters relating to local government.
You can access information on the 'forward plan' containing the decisions to be made by the Executive and showing the scrutiny committees at which those matters will be discussed.
You can also download copies of reports that are submitted to the overview and scrutiny committees, regulatory and other committees, the Executive and the full council.
Finally, you can view full details of Council and Committee meetings and the Council's constitution/Corporate governance |
