How Manchester City Council makes decisions
The Committee Structure
Meetings of the Council and committees are organised within an eight-weekly cycle. Council is made up of 96 councillors and meets six times a year. It starts with an annual meeting after the May local elections when it elects the Lord Mayor of Manchester and appoints councillors to serve on committees for the municipal year ahead.
Council meets to debate the council's budget, constitution and policy framework. Council appoints the Executive, the principal decision making body. Overview and scrutiny committees are set up by Council to monitor decisions taken and to hold decision makers to account, as well as reviewing council policies and making recommendations on future policy options. Overview and scrutiny committees also ensure that the council's partnerships are responsive to local needs and concerns. Council appoints the following regulatory committees:
- Planning and Highways Committee
- Licensing and Appeals Committee
- Licensing Committee
- Licensing Policy Committee
- Employee Appeals Committee
The following committees have been established to consider staffing, constitutional and other matters:
- Personnel Committee
- Constitutional and Nominational Committee
There is also a Standards Committee which is responsible for promoting high standards of conduct by councillors.
These committees have delegated powers to take decisions without requiring further approval from Council unless they involve changes to the policy framework.
Contents of How Manchester City Council makes decisions
- The Committee Structure (this page)
- The Decision Making Process
- Attending Committee Meetings
