The Mayor appoints a Cabinet to support him, from amongst the councillors in his political group (Labour). The Mayor can make changes to his Cabinet at any time, but usually confirms the members of his Cabinet at the Council AGM each May.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is made up of a group of councillors from all political parties represented on the Council, who are not members of the Mayor’s Cabinet. The Board acts as a “critical friend” by reviewing decisions made by Cabinet, checking that services are improving and conducting inquiries into key issues for local people.

There are five standing commissions that specialise in particular areas, including social care and health, housing and street cleaning and the Council’s finances. The current chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board is Councillor Simche Steinberger.

The Council has set up four Neighbourhood Committees of all the local councillors in that area. The committees meet every three months, and provide a forum for local residents, businesses and voluntary organisations to come together, raise and discuss issues of importance to the neighbourhood. They are intended to bring together diverse elements of a local community to generate positive ideas for the development of an area. Committees also receive reports from Estate Committees and can question the Mayor and officers on the delivery of services to the area.

The Standards Committee is an internal ‘watchdog’, responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst councillors, and overseeing the ethical governance of the Council. This committee contains a majority of independent members who are not councillors. The Chair and Vice Chair are both independent members. The Standards Committee also has responsibility for overseeing and monitoring the operation of the Council’s complaints procedure.

There are a series of functions set out in law that cannot be determined by the Cabinet. The Regulatory Committee has oversight of a range of non-executive functions, which often involve the Council acting in a quasi judicial manner. The Regulatory Committee’s remit includes planning and conservation, the registration of common land, highways use and regulation, gaming entertainment, and health and safety. It is also responsible for staff terms and conditions of employment.

Further information is available on the website at www.hackney.gov.uk/councillors