Decision making 

How decisions are made

(a) The Council

The Council is made up of all 60 Councillors and it:

• decides the constitution; 
• agrees policy framework;  
• agrees the budget; and  
• appoints the Leader for a term determined by the Council.

(b) The Leader

The Leader determines the size of the Cabinet and appoints members of the Cabinet and determines the arrangements for delegation of the Cabinet functions. The Leader also appoints a member of the Cabinet as a Deputy Leader who will act in the Leader's absence.

(c) The Cabinet

The Cabinet is made up of the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader and an Executive Cabinet Member.

Its main role is to:-

• implement the policies agreed by the Council;  
• give political leadership; 
•  propose policy framework to the Council; 
•  propose the budget to the Council; and 
•  make recommendations to the Council on broad policy issues.

Executive Cabinet Members

The Leader and the other Executive Cabinet Members:

• work within an overall policy framework set by the Council;  
• have individual responsibility for key areas of work known as portfolios;  
• are accountable for their decisions which they take either as individuals or as the collective Cabinet.

The Cabinet Members and their Portfolios are as follows:-

Councillor Morris (Leader of Council) - Executive Cabinet Member - Leader’s Portfolio
Councillor Mrs. Thomas (Deputy Leader of the Council) - Executive Cabinet Member - Deputy Leader’s Portfolio
Councillor Peel - Executive Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Skills

The Leader has also appointed 11 Cabinet Members who are responsible for the following areas:-

Any decisions they take are ratified at the Executive Cabinet Member meetings.

(d) Non-executive Councillors

The remaining Councillors are non-executive councillors and they:

• represent their wards and hold surgeries as usual;  
• spend time in their area finding out what concerns people most;  
• take part in area forums helping to decide priorities;  
•  influence the key decision makers by proposing changes to policies or budgets;  
•  help to choose how area budgets are spent; and  
•  serve, with Executive Members, on committees for planning control and licensing and environmental regulations.

(e) Area Forums

The Council, at present, has 18 Area Forums as follows ;-

Astley Bridge Area Forum
Bradshaw Area Forum
Breightmet Area Forum
Bromley Cross Area Forum
Crompton Area Forum
Farnworth Area Forum
Great Lever Area Forum
Halliwell Area Forum
Harper Green Area Forum
Heaton and Lostock Area Forum
Hulton Area Forum
Kearsley Area Forum
Little Lever and Darcy Lever Area Forum
Rumworth Area Forum
Smithills Area Forum
Tonge with the Haulgh Area Forum
Two Towns Area Forum
Westhoughton with Chew Moor Area Forum

Area Forums:-

• host informal sessions at each meeting to let the public question members and departmental managers and receive feedback;  
• decide local priorities;  
• allocate its own budget to small scale projects;and  
•  influence the Council in the development and implementation of policy.
   

(f) Scrutiny Committees

The Council, at present, has four Scrutiny Committees:

• Corporate and External Issues Scrutiny Committee
• Environmental, Services Scrutiny Committee
• Adult and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee
• Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Scrutiny Committees hold the Cabinet to account by:

• challenging policies and budget allocations;  
• challenging decisions made by portfolio holders;  
• recommending changes to decisions;   
•  make recommendations to the Executive/Executive Members;
• monitor and challenge performance;
• consider any councillor calls for action; and
• working with partner authorities to improve local improvement targets.
   

They can also create Scrutiny Panels which scrutinise issues in depth.

(g) Planning Committee

Exercises the functions of the Council as local planning authority.

(h) Licensing and Environmental Regulations Committee:

 Exercises the functions of the Council relating to Licensing matters
 and Environmental Regulations in respect of Environmental Protection,
 Environmental Health, Public Health, Animal Health, Trading Standards
 and Consumer Protection.

(i) Standards Committee:

 Promotes and maintains high standards of conduct by Councillors,
 co-opted members and church and parent governor representatives.

To view the agendas, reports and minutes of any meetings of the above please click on the link on the right hand side of this page (Committee Management Information System).