The Forward Plan is a rolling programme of key decisions which the Council plans to take in the coming months. It is published on a monthly basis covering a four month period.The purpose of the Forward Plan is to give notice of those decisions and an opportunity for consultation. Key decisions are decisions taken by either the Cabinet or Council that have a significant effect on the community or involve significant budgets using the following criteria:

• anything affecting communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards
• any expenditure or savings which are significant, regarding the Council's budget for the service function to which the decision relates in excess of £100,000
• anything significantly affecting communities within one ward
• anything affecting the budgetary and policy framework set by the Council