Thanet District Council


Thanet District Council or TDC is made up of 56 Members,

34 Conservative, The Majority or Controlling Group

19 Labour, The Opposition.

3 Independent.


TDC is run by The Cabinet which consists of The Leader, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holders (4)


The Cabinet makes decisions that are in line with the Councils policy on various matters. Decisions that are outside policy or vary policy are referred to Full Council meetings for decision when all Members have the chance to debate and vote on various changes.


There are also two Committees that act in a Quasi Judicial capacity, Planning and Licensing.


The Council also has a Scrutiny Committee consisting of Majority Group members and Opposition Group members, members of The Cabinet are not allowed to sit on this Committee.


Scrutiny is Chaired by a member of the Majority Group, the Vice Chair is a member of the Opposition. When Scrutiny decides to look at an issue or decision small sub groups are set up to investigate and report back to the main Committee.


Scrutiny can hold the Cabinet to account but cannot change a decision, they can only examine the process and facts used to arrive at a decision and recommend changes to decisions or processes. Scrutiny cannot examine Full Council decisions or interfere with the functions of any Quasi Judicial Committees.


TDC also has a Standards Committee. This is Chaired by a member of the public who is unrelated to any Member or Officer of the Council and is not a member of any Political Party, there are also several other Independent Lay members. Parish Councils are also represented. This Committee deals with issues of member conduct and probity and members of Parish Councils are also subject to this Committees remit. The Government is changing the way these Committees are run and returning the process to local areas so they will become more important in the near future.