Who we are and what we do

This section of our Publication Scheme directs you to information about our:

  • organisation
  • our structures
  • locations
  • contact details

The information will be current, unless stated otherwise.

Council Constitution

These are documents we are required to bring together and make available for public inspection under the Local Government Act 2000. The Constitution, and all its appendices, is the Constitution of the Southend-on-Sea City Council.

Parts of the Constitution

Content can be accessed through our Democracy website where you will find a link to each of the individual sections.

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation and Public Participation

This covers:

  • A summary and explanation of the Constitution
  • Public participation with the Council
  • Decision making and key decisions
  • Access to Information procedure rules
  • The petition scheme

Part 2 - The Council

This covers:

  • The Council
  • The Role of Councillors
  • The Council Procedure Rules
  • The Budget and Policy Framework
  • The Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules
  • The Honorary Titles

Part 3 - Committees

This covers:

  • Committee Structure
  • Committee Procedure Rules
  • Planning Committee Procedure Rules
  • Licensing Sub-committee Procedure Rules
  • Planning Committee and Terms of Reference
  • Licensing Committee and Terms of Reference
  • Standards Committee and Terms of Reference
  • Audit and Governance Committee and Terms of Reference
  • General Purposes Committee
  • Health and Wellbeing Board Committee and Terms of Reference
  • Senior Appointments and Disciplinary Committee and Terms of Reference
  • Appeals Committee

Part 4 - The Executive (Cabinet)

This covers:

  • Executive Arrangements
  • The Leader and Cabinet Model of Executive
  • The Role Cabinet
  • The Cabinet
  • Cabinet Procedure Rules
  • Joint Arrangements:
    • Joint Authorities
    • Joint Committees

Part 5 -Overview and Scrutiny

This covers:

  • Overview and Scrutiny Arrangements
  • Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules
  • Call-in Procedure
  • Call-in and Urgency
  • Pre-decision Scrutiny

Part 6 -Councillors

  • The Role of Councillors and Office Holders
  • The Code of Conduct for Councillors
  • Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints against Councillors
  • Protocol for Councillor/Officer Relations
  • The Scheme of Councillors'Allowances

Part 7 - Composition of the Council and Management Structure

This covers:

  • Management Structure
  • Scheme of Delegation to Officers
    • Strategy and Change
    • Finance and Resources
    • Children and Public Health
    • Adults and Communities
    • Environment and Place
  • List of Statutory Officers and Proper Officers and Designated Posts
  • Employee Code of Conduct
  • Staff Employment Procedure Rules
  • Contract Procedure Rules
  • Financial Procedure Rules
  • Property Procedure Rules

A copy of the full Constitution is available online.

Council democratic structure

The Democracy website provides a wide range of information and documents about how the Council operates.

Organisational Chart

This is information about the staffing structure of our organisation.

Full details can be found on our Chief Executive and Corporate Leadership team page.

Our top-level organisational structure is available to view as:

This information is updated every six months and is a snapshot of our organisational structure at the date of publication. As a large organisation our staffing position changes frequently. Please be aware that the position shown may not reflect the situation at the time of viewing.

Gender pay gap reporting

Under the Equality Act 2010, we report yearly on our gender pay gap.

Currently elected councillors' information and contact details

Information about each of our councillors can be found on our Democracy website. This includes their:

  • name
  • position on the council
  • how they can be contacted

Contact details for our customer facing departments

Details can be found on our Contact us page.

This includes the:

  • the role of the contact
  • phone number
  • email address

Most recent election results

These are available to view on our Election results page.

Past elections results are also available to view on this page.

Relationships with other authorities

Information about us and our role as a Unitary Local Authority can be found on our About us page.

We work with organisations which are independent from the council but have an impact on our service areas. A list of these outside bodies can be found on our Democracy website. Following the links will provide details of our representative on the body concerned.

As a Unitary Local Authority we are responsible for appointing and providing services for a Returning Officer for election purposes. Our returning officer is the Chief Executive.

The delivery of the local registration service is a shared responsibility between the:

  • local authority and,
  • the Registrar General (head of the General Register Office)

To find out more, visit our Registration service information page.

The Council's Monitoring Officer has statutory duties and powers such as:

  • advising on the council's Constitution
  • ensuring lawfulness and fairness of decision making
  • promoting high standards of conduct

They support the Standards Committee and manage the process for the investigation of complaints against Councillors. Our Monitoring Officer is the Director of Law and Governance.

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