The Council
We are one of the largest and most diverse employers in South West Wales employing over 9000 people providing services across a rural county to a population of around 184,000 (2011 Census). The Council comprises 74 elected Councillors representing 58 Electoral Wards from a range of political groups. They normally meet as a Council on a monthly basis.
They are elected by you to represent your views when they make decisions about services and matters affecting the local community. They have a number of roles and responsibilities and they need to balance the needs and interests of their community, their political party or group with the needs of the residents of the county as a whole.
They make decisions about local services, budgets, the overall level of Council services and the level of Council Tax to be levied each year. Each Councillor is elected to represent a specific area (Electoral Ward) and normally serves for a period of four years after which time they then have to stand for re-election. Locally, their work includes:
- holding surgeries to help local people
- supporting local organisations
- campaigning on local issues
- developing links with all parts of the community and being a community leader.
Executive Board
Ten of the Council’s members make up the Executive Board, including the Leader of the Council. The Executive Board is responsible for taking most of the Council’s major decisions and decides how resources are used to deliver services in the county. Executive Board Members are responsible for decision making within specific areas of interest, known as portfolios.
Corporate Management Team
The Corporate Management Team, led by the Chief Executive, oversees the day-to-day operation of the council's services. The Council’s Corporate Structure is made up of five Directorates:
- Chief Executives
- Education and Children
- Resources
- Community Services
- Environment
Democratic Services Unit
The Democratic Services Unit administers meetings of the Council, Executive Board and Committees of the Council. Producing meeting agendas, attending meetings and recording the decisions made and also providing advice on the law and practice of meetings to Councillors, officers and the public. They also provide administrative support to all 74 Councillors. They can advise you on your rights to attend meetings and how to go about submitting petitions or any other query you may have about how the Council and its Committees work.
Council & Democracy
The Council
- Council's Constitution
- Chair 2020 - 21
- Coroners Office
- Lord Lieutenant
- Leader's Blog
- Chairman's Blog
Councillors, AMs and MPs
- Your County Councillor
- How to become a Councillor
- Councillor allowances and interests
- Town & Community Councillors
- Members of Welsh Parliament
- Members of Parliament
Council departments
Committees & Meetings
- Agendas & minutes
- Governance & Audit Committee
- Council Diary
- Democratic Services Committee
- Executive Board
- Officer decisions
- Planning Committee
- Scrutiny
- Standards Committee
- Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)
Strategies and plans
Council Budget
Consultation & Performance
- Current Consultations
- Performance Management
- Audit Inspections & Reports
- The Well-being of Future Generations Act
- Well-being Objectives
- Council's Annual Report 2019-20
Brexit guidance
Public notices
Elections & Voting
- Senedd Cymru Elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2021
- Eligibility to vote
- How do I vote?
- Register to vote
- Update your details on the Electoral Register
- Annual update of the voters roll
- How to opt-out of the open register
- Viewing the Electoral Register
- By-elections
- My nearest - Election information
- Parliamentary General Election 2019
- Local elections 2017
- Parliamentary Election 2017
Data Protection
Freedom of Information
Research & Statistics
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