Introduction
Section 100G(2) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 requires the Council to keep a list of the Council's powers (other than temporary powers) which can be exercised by officers of the Council. The Council has to state the title of the officer who can exercise those powers.
Where a power has been delegated to an officer, that officer may not delegate the power further. The Council has stated, however, that any function that has been delegated to a Director may also be exercised by a Service Head, so long as the Director has not given instructions to the contrary. A Head of Service may also authorise other staff to purchase supplies, equipment and tools in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules. In addition, the Council's Monitoring Officer has legal authority to delegate his powers during his absence or where he has a conflict of interest. In such circumstances, the power will normally be delegated to the Deputy Monitoring Officer.
The following schedule shows those powers delegated to officers of this Council and is available for inspection by the public in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
Certain decisions that can be made by officers are called 'Key Decisions' because they have a significant impact on the community, or because they can result in costs or savings of £57,000 revenue or £143,000 capital (these figures are increased annually). These decisions can only be taken if they have been advertised in the Council's Forward Plan - the decision must also be published when it has been made. Councillors can 'call-in' a Key Decision if they are unhappy with it - this means that the decision cannot be implemented until it has been scrutinised by the Council's Performance Monitoring Panel and sometimes by the full Council as well.
When an officer makes a decision under delegated powers, he or she must take into account any Council policies that affect the decision.
General Provisions
(a) Where authority is delegated to an Officer, any reference to an Act of Parliament, Regulation or Instrument of the like kind, shall include a reference to any amendment or re-enactment of the same, provided that the said amendment does not have the effect of extending those delegated functions (Minute 523/90).
(b) The Chief Executive and Directors are authorised to perform any function delegated to a Head of Service (except where a function is delegated to the Head of Customer, Legal and Member Services as Monitoring Officer, or where a function is delegated to the Head of Finance as Section 151 Officer). Where the delegation to the Head of Service is subject to consultation with the relevant portfolio holder then the delegation to the Chief Executive/Director will also be subject to consultation with the relevant portfolio holder. (Minute C113/07 and 334(x)/07).
(c) Directors are authorised to perform any of the functions delegated to the Chief Executive provided that the Chief Executive has not issued instructions to the contrary.
(d) Appropriate Heads of Service are authorised to perform any of the functions delegated to a Director provided that the Director has not issued instructions to the contrary (Minute 521/01).
(e) Where delegated authority has been granted to an officer, that officer shall also be authorised to undertake any action that is incidental to the discharge of function delegated.
(f) This schedule should be read in conjunction with the rest of this constitution, including its Financial Regulations.
Abbreviations and Definitions
Proper Officer shall, unless otherwise stated, be taken to mean the medical officer(s) appointed by the Council for the discharge of various functions relating to environmental health and community medicine. (See minute Nos. 979/87, 871/90, 638/92, 348/94 and 333/97).
ACX - Assistant Chief Executive
AEHT - Assistant Environmental Health Technician
BRM - Benefits and Revenues Manager
CA - Clerical Assistant
CH (TA) - Community Housing (Technical Assistant)
CIA - Chief Internal Auditor
CIHP - Consultant in Health Protection
CommSM - Community Services Manager
CNS.CA - Community and Neighbourhood Services Clerical Assistant
CSM - Contract Services Manager
CX - Chief Executive
DPH - Director of Public Health
EHOs - Environmental Health Officers
EHPs - Environmental Health Practitioners
EHT - Environmental Health Technician
EHTA - Environmental Health Technical Assistant
ERO - Electoral Registration Officer
DW - District Warden
DoW - Dog Warden
HOCLMS - Head of Customer, Legal and Member Services
HOCNS - Head of Community and Neighbourhood Services
HOECD - Head of Economic and Community Development
HOF - Head of Finance
HOHP - Head of Housing and Property
HOM - Housing Operational Manager
HoOD - Head of Operational Development
HOPD - Head of Planning and Development
HOS - Heads of Service
HOST - Heads of Service Team collectively
HRM - Human Resources Manager
HRO - Housing Rents Officer
HSM - Housing Strategy Manager
HSO - Health and Safety Officer
HST - Health and Safety Technician
LO - Licensing Officer
LT - Licensing Technician
MO - Monitoring Officer
MSM - Member Services Manager
NSM - Neighbourhood Services Manager
ODOM - OD Operational Manager
PBS - Public Buildings Surveyor
PCSO - Police Community Support Officer
PSHT - Private Sector Housing Technician
RO - Recovery Officer
Ret.O - Returning Officer
SBCO - Senior Billing and Collection Officer
SBRO - Senior Benefits and Revenues Officer
SDT - Service Development Team (All Heads of Service)
SM - Services Manager
SMT - Senior Management Team collectively
SPCO - Single Point of Contact Officer (Freedom of Information)
SRRO - Senior Rating and Recovery Officer
TL - Team Leader (This refers either to the Team Leader (Food Safety and Licensing) or the Team Leader (Safety and Environment) as appropriate)
