The Executive is the main decision making body of the Council, responsible for implementing the budgetary and policy framework of the Council. Each of the 10 members also has individual special responsibility for a particular area of the Council's services and policies.

The Executive is appointed by the Council. It has 10 members: the Leader and Deputy Leaders and seven Executive Members each with a special responsibility for a particular area - Adult Services, Arts and Leisure, Children's Services, Employment and Skills, Environment, Finance and Human Resources, Neighbourhood Services and Direct Services.

The Executive is responsible for implementing the budgetary and policy framework and has full authority in this respect. This means that most of its decisions do not need Council approval. Where, however, it is proposing changes to the framework these must be submitted to the Council for determination.

There is a 15 member Standing Consultative Panel, which has a invitation to attend the public meetings of the Executive. Members of the panel can speak at these meetings and can make propositions. However, only the Executive Members can vote on proposals and so they have the power to make decisions.

The members of the Executive are all from the majority party in the Council. The Executive plus the Consultative Panel is a politically balanced group reflecting the political balance of the Council. There are nine Liberal Democrat members and six Labour members on the Panel.