COMMITTEES

The Audit & Governance Committee provides independent assurance to Full Council regarding the following matters:

• governance;
• financial controls;
• risk management;
• audit arrangements;
• compliance;  and
• organisational assurance.

The Committee’s primary role is not operational service delivery, but rather scrutiny, assurance, oversight and review of the effectiveness of the Council’s governance arrangements. The Committee supports Full Council by providing assurance that the Council is operating lawfully, governance arrangements are effective, financial controls are appropriate, risks are identified and managed and the Council is meeting its statutory obligations.

The Audit Committee meets five times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Audit & Governance Committee dates.

The Cemeteries, Open Spaces & Sustainability Committee operates under delegated authority from Full Council. The Committee provides strategic oversight of the Council’s responsibilities relating to:

• cemeteries and burial services;
• allotments;
• open spaces and environmental assets;
• recreation and amenity land;
• biodiversity and sustainability initiatives;
• street furniture and public realm maintenance;
• environmental and climate-related priorities; and
• associated operational service delivery.

The Committee also oversees delivery of the Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan and Climate Action Plan.

The Cemeteries, Open Spaces & Sustainability Committee meets four times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Cemeteries, Open Spaces & Sustainability Committee dates.

The Community, Events & Culture Committee operates under delegated authority from Full Council and is responsible for overseeing the Council’s role in:

• community engagement;
• civic and public events;
• cultural initiatives;
• public celebrations;
• markets and festivals;
• community grant support;
• and cultural and museum services.

The Committee helps support and enhance the social, cultural, civic and community life of Godalming.  The Committee’s role combines strategic oversight, community leadership, event coordination and cultural development.  The Committee also acts as an important interface between the Council and community organisations, local groups, cultural partners, residents and volunteers.

The Community, Events & Culture Committee meets four times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Community, Events & Culture Committee dates.

The Management Committee is the Council’s principal committee for:

• corporate governance coordination;
• financial oversight;
• strategic policy coordination;
• and corporate resource management.

The Committee acts as the primary coordinating body between Full Council, Service Committees, corporate finance and organisational governance arrangements.  The Committee’s role is both strategic and corporate in nature and includes oversight relating to budget monitoring, asset management, procurement, contracts, insurance, corporate policy development and coordination of service committee work programmes

The Management Committee meets eight times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Management Committee dates.

The Planning Committee operates under delegated authority from Full Council and manages the Council’s role in:

• planning consultations;
• neighbourhood planning;
• planning policy responses;
• and related environmental and infrastructure matters.

The Committee acts as a statutory consultee in the planning process and provides the Council’s formal responses to planning applications submitted to the Local Planning Authority.  The Committee also considers matters relating to highways, flood resilience, environmental impact, heritage considerations, open space protection, and strategic development affecting the town.  The Committee’s role is consultative rather than determinative. Final planning decisions remain the responsibility of the Local Planning Authority.

The Planning Committee meets every three weeks.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Environment & Planning Committee dates.

The Staffing Committee operates under delegated authority from Full Council and is responsible for overseeing the Council’s role as an employer.

The Committee provides strategic oversight relating to:

• staffing structures;
• recruitment;
• employment policies;
• pay and establishment matters;
• training and development;
• health and safety oversight;
• and employment law compliance.

The Committee also oversees recruitment and appraisal arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer, staffing-related budget oversight and employment governance arrangements across the Council. The Committee provides strategic employer oversight rather than day-to-day management of employees.

The Staffing Committee meets four times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Staffing Committee dates.

The Youth Service Committee operates under delegated authority from Full Council and provides strategic oversight and Member support for the Council’s Youth Service. The Committee’s purpose is to help ensure that:

• the Youth Service operates within approved budgets and policy;
• safeguarding and statutory obligations are met;
• service performance and outcomes are monitored;
• and the Youth Service contributes positively to the Council’s wider community objectives.

The Committee provides strategic oversight, governance assurance, policy direction and Member support.

The Youth Service Committee meets four times a year.

Agendas and minutes for all Committee meetings may be found here.

See the calendar with Staffing Committee dates.