BCJC forward plan

Forward Plan of key decisions

The Forward Plan sets out decisions that are termed as 'key decisions' before they are due to be taken by the Black Country Executive Joint Committee.

Preparation of the Forward Plan helps the Black Country Executive Joint Committee to programme its work.

The purpose of the Forward Plan is to give plenty of notice and an opportunity for consultation on the issues to be discussed.

The plan will cover a period of 4 months and be updated each month with the period of the plan being rolled forward by one month and republished.

What information does it provide?

All 'key and non-key decisions' should appear on the published Forward Plan for at least 28 days prior to the decision being taken.

The Forward Plan should include public and private reports with the appropriate exemption used.

A 'key decision' means an executive decision, which is likely either:

1. To result in the BCJC making a decision or a relevant local authority incurring expenditure which is, or the making of savings which are, significant having regard to the local authority‘s budget for the service or function to which the decisions relates.
2. To be significant in terms of its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards or electoral divisions in the area of the relevant local authority.

In determining the meaning of 'significant' for the purpose of paragraph (i) above, savings or expenditure are significant if they exceed £100,000.

In urgent circumstances where a matter arises that has not been included in the Forward Plan but a decision needs to be taken at the next BCJC meeting, the special protocols of general exception and special urgency may be used. A notice will appear on the Forward Plan explaining the reasons why the item has not previously appeared on the Forward Plan.