West Sussex County Council: Meetings and Decisions

Decisions are made by the full County Council, by the Cabinet collectively, by individual Cabinet Members and by officers depending on the importance of the decision.  Decisions are also made by County Local Committees and a number of 'non-Executive' committees.  There are also Select Committees which scrutinise decisions taken by Cabinet Members.

All the most important council meetings are open to the public and many agendas, reports and minutes are available on-line.  Go to the relevant page for each meeting to find out more.

• Forthcoming meetings
• Annual calendar of meetings
• Committee memberships
• Constitution
• Register of Members' Interests
• Members' Information Service weekly newsletter

Full Council meetings

Meetings of the full Council are held six times a year at County Hall, Chichester.  Agendas are published in advance, meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on this website.

• County Chairman and Vice-Chairman
• Full Council meetings - meeting dates, agendas and reports
• Webcasts of Council meetings

Cabinet meetings

Most day-to-day Cabinet decisions are taken by Cabinet Members individually.  One formal Cabinet meeting is diaried each year to consider the Corporate Plan and the budget.

• Cabinet meetings - meeting dates, agendas and reports
• Database of decisions by individual Cabinet Members
• Forward Plan - key decisions to be taken in the following four months

The ten members of the Cabinet are as follows:

• Leader - Mr Henry Smith
• Deputy Leader - Mr Lionel Barnard
• Adults' Services - Mr John de Mierre
• Children and Young People's Services - Mrs Pat Arculus
• Communications - Mr Brad Watson
• Education and Schools - Mr Peter Griffiths
• Environment and Economy - Mrs Deborah Urquhart
• Finance and Resources - Ms Louise Goldsmith
• Public Protection - Mr Peter Evans
• Strategic Planning and Transport - Mr Derek Whittington

Select committees

The Select Committees review Council services to ensure best value for local people and scrutinise the decisions of Cabinet Members.  Find out more about the role of scrutiny.

• Adults' Services Select Committee
• Children and Young People's Services Select Committee
• Policy and Resources Select Committee
• Public Protection Select Committee
• Strategic Environmental Services Select Committee
• Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Other committees and panels

• Governance Committee
• Pensions Panel
• Planning Committee
• Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee
• Rights of Way Committee
• Standards Committee

County local and area committees

• Visit the 'Talk with Us' website to find out more about your County Local Committee or Area Committee
• Database of County Local Committee or Area Committee decisions
• Forward Plan - key decisions to be taken in the following four months

Outside bodies, boards and partnerships

• Chichester Harbour Conservancy
• Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee
• Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve Advisory Board
• South Downs Joint Committee
• South East Fire & Rescue Service Regional Management Board
• Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education
• West Sussex Joint Planning Board

Past committees

An archive of meeting papers for committees which have been abolished or superseded.

• Appointments and Remuneration Committee
• School Organisation Committee
• West Sussex Joint Health Partnership Board

• Annual Calendar of Meetings
• Cabinet and Local Committee Decisions
• Committee Memberships
• Forthcoming Meetings
• Forward Plan of Key Decisions
• Full List of Agendas and Minutes
• Full List of Committees
• Members' Information Service weekly newsletter
• Webcasts of Council meetings