In practice, local authorities tend to operate through a structure of committees and sub-committees which are set out in the Council's Standing Orders.
Meetings of these committees and sub-committees take place on a fixed rota culminating in a full council meeting. Local Area Committees are a key element to the structure.
Each councillor sits on their local Area Committee and on Corporate or Service Committees. Committee memberships have been agreed to generally reflect the political balance of the Council. Stewartry Area Committee has recently developed a new system of 'themed' meetings in addition to their usual regulatory meetings in an effort to reach out more to the public.
