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Council-wide

RSH Ward

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Medway Council:
The Cabinet (Executive)

The Cabinet : 9 Members
(Leader plus 8 other Portfolio Holders)

Medway's first Cabinet raise their sights for Medway's future

The Cabinet came into being on 1^st October 2001. It is the "Strong Leader plus Cabinet" model, and comprises the Leader of Medway Council and nine so-called Portfolio Holders, all from the largest political group on the Council (currently the Conservative group).

After the May 2003 local election, and in the light of some eighteen months' experience of running the new system, the Cabinet was changed in some places and some Portfolio Holders changed. A second revision, to take account of new legislation requiring councils to have an integrated children's services structure, took effect from 1^st August 2005. This Cabinet, which was at this time reduced from ten to nine members, was again changed in May 2006 when one of the then Portfolio Holders became Mayor of Medway.

A year later, after the local elections in May 2007, the Cabinet was increased in strength back to ten members to allow two Portfolio Holders to concentrate on the highest priorities of the time: community safety and children's social care.

The current Cabinet is shown below, with links to the individual portfolios and Portfolio Holders.

Unlike the Parliamentary Cabinet on which this structure is based, Medway's Cabinet, Council and Committees all meet in open session rather than behind closed doors. Public and press are welcome, although—as previously—any agenda items involving discussion of confidential information will need to be dealt with in closed session. These are dealt with last.