Decision Book

With the modernisation of Local Government the process of decision making has been revised. Matters under the new modernised structure will be decided in one of three ways:

• By decision of full Council
• By decision of Policy & Implementation Committee (or its Sub-Committees)
• By officer delegation in consultation with the Lead Member or Executive Board AND recorded in the Decision Book

If the matter is within the remit of the Executive Board, the report is submitted to the Executive Board to endorse exercise of delegation

If exercise of delegation is endorsed:

• the decision will be printed in the Decision Book with the accompanying report and circulated publicly to all councillors, press and public
• in addition the decisions book will be made available in public libraries and at the civic offices reception
• the Decision Book is also displayed here on the Reading Borough Council Website

The decision and report will be in public circulation for ten days (in line with the spirit of the provisions of the Access to Information Act 1986). Within the ten-day period, three or more Councillors may request in writing to the Chief Executive that the decision be referred to the Policy & Implementation Committee or Council for consideration. If the decision is referred to the Committee or Council, it may not be implemented until the Committee or Council have debated and resolved it. If the decision is not referred to the Council or Committee, it may be implemented at the end of the ten-day period

The Lead Members or, in their absence, their Deputies, will be empowered by the Executive Board to check entries in the Decision Book which fall within their areas of responsibility. The Executive Board may also empower a Deputy, nominated by the Lead Member, to act as the authorised check for a particular area of responsibility (within the remit of the Lead Member) on an ongoing basis.

If exercise of delegation is not endorsed either by the Lead Member or by the Executive Board, the officer has the choice either of reconsidering the matter, or reporting directly to the Committee or Council. Delegations in consultation with the Lead Member or the Executive Board may be exercised only by Chief Executive, Corporate Directors or Heads of Financial Services or Legal Services.