Monmouthshire County Council comprises 43 councillors elected every four or five years simultaneously. Following the elections (May 2012) the political balance is:\r\n\r\n Conservative – 19\r\n Labour – 11\r\n Independent – 10\r\n Liberal Democrat – 3\r\n\r\nThe Conservative & Liberal Democrat groups formed a partnership administration for the term of the council. There is a cabinet of eight members which, working with the council’s leadership team, is responsible for taking most decisions about service delivery.\r\n\r\nHeadquarters are built in Usk with other buidings and offices across the county. We employ approximately 4,800 staff. \r\n\r\n'Agile working' was implemented in 2009 which means, where applicable, staff have their own laptops and work to a policy of one desk to two people – saving space and allowing staff to work whenever & wherever suits them best. The working ethos across the council is that 'work is something we do, not somewhere we go'.\r\n\r\nMonmouthshire council tax payers will contribute £43 million to the annual budget in 2011/12. The total council tax payable is dependent on several factors including the council budget, the amount required by Gwent Police Authority & the budget set by the relevant community council. At band D the council tax for 2011/12 will be £1224.52.\r\n\r\nOur three main priorities are education, the protection of the vulnerable & supporting economic development.