Watch the meeting live from 10am on Friday 26th AugustLicensing hearing - watch online
In person meetings have resumed, and can be viewed via our webcast portal.
Videos of past meetings (held via Teams during Covid) can be found on our YouTube channel.
Meetings of Executive Cabinet Members are not open to the press and public (in accordance with Section 13 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings Access and Information) Regulations 2012). However, agendas and reports for these meetings are available via the Committee Management Information System.
Meetings of the Cabinet, Committees and Area Forums will be open to the press and public unless the nature of the business to be discussed is considered exempt as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Those items considered confidential which will be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting will be advertised via the Council's Forward Plan (see Links Tab) and instructions as to how representations can be made as to why the matter should be considered in public are contained therein.
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
- 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 eight Executive Cabinet Members.
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
- 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 executive cabinet members and their portfolios are as follows:
| Executive Cabinet Members | Deputies | Portfolios |
|---|---|---|
| Councillor Cox (Leader of the Council) |
Councillor Fairclough |
Responsible for all matters relating to Strategy, External Relations, Strategic Budget, Public Service Reform, Partnerships with Public, Private and Voluntary sectors at a strategic level, Corporate Support Services, Financial Services and Budget Development, Equality and Diversity within the Council, Business Continuity, Humanitarian Support, Bolton Vision, the Registration Services and Coroner’s Service |
|
Councillor Fairclough - Deputy Leader’s Portfolio |
Councillor Cox |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Authority’s duties with regard to Environment Regulatory Services, Education and Enforcement, Sports, Tourism, Libraries, Museums and Cultural Services strategies |
| Councillor Dean (Stronger Communities) |
Councillor Cox |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Authority’s duties with regard to the Voluntary Sector, Crime and Disorder, Community Engagement and Community Safety |
| Councillor Baines (Wellbeing) |
Councillor Morgan |
Responsible for all matters relating to Health and Wellbeing (including Deprivation and Inequalities), Public Health (including public protection), Mental Health, Civil Contingencies, Domestic Abuse and Violence and Health and Social Care Integration |
| Councillor Morgan (Adult Social Care – People Directorate) |
Councillor Baines |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Council’s affairs in respect of Adult Services, Safeguarding relating to adults, the Armed Forces Covenant, Community Housing Services and Bolton Cares |
| Councillor Galloway (Children’s Services – People Directorate) |
Councillor Morgan |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Council’s affairs in respect of Children’s Services including Looked After Children, Safeguarding relating to Children and Young People, Schools, Early Years and the Youth Offending Service |
| Councillor Hewitt (Strategic Housing and Planning) |
Councillor Haslam |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Authority’s duties with regard to Strategic Housing and Planning |
| Councillor Muslim (Environmental Service Delivery) |
Councillor Fairclough | Responsible for all matters relating to the Authority’s duties with regard to the Council’s Digital Strategy, Waste and Waste Collection and Neighbourhood Services |
| Councillor Fairclough (Environmental Regulatory Services) |
Councillor Warren | Environment Regulatory Services, Education and Enforcement |
| Councillor Haslam (Highways and Transport) |
Councillor Warren | Highways and Transport |
|
Councillor Warren |
Councillor Cox |
Responsible for all matters relating to the Authority’s duties with regard to Development and Regeneration, Economic issues, Town Centres including the Town Centre Strategy but excluding Bolton Town Centre and its Town Centre Strategy, Climate Change, including Clean Air and Land and Property |
(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
- serve, with cabinet members, on committees for planning control and licensing and environmental regulations
(e) Area Forums:
The council has 18 area forums.
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
- influence the council in the development and implementation of policy
(f) Scrutiny Committees:
The council, at present, has three scrutiny committees:
- Corporate and External Issues Scrutiny Committee
- Environmental Services Scrutiny Committee
- Children's Services Scrutiny Committee
- Health Overview and Adult Services 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 cabinet/executive cabinet members
- monitor and challenge performance
- consider any councillor calls for action
- 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 and its Sub-Committees:
Exercises the functions of the council relating to licensing matters and Environmental Regulations in respect of Environmental Protection, Environmental 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.
(j) Audit Committee:
To consider corporate governance in relation to financial matters.
(k) Health and Wellbeing Board:
The local authority in conjunction with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and representatives from other organisations prepare Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies and encourage integrated working between health and social care commissioners.
To view the agendas, reports and minutes of any meetings of the above please go to the Committee Management Information System.