1.1 This Part of the Constitution sets out the powers of officers of the Council to discharge the functions of the Council, including making decisions.
1.2 The Constitution sets out which decisions have to be made by the full Council, a Committee of the Council or by the Cabinet. All other functions of the Council are delegated to officers.
1.3 Officers acting under delegated powers can exercise the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions, implementing decisions and managing the services, contracts and staff for which they are responsible.
2.1 All functions of the Council, except those decisions that are specified as member decisions in the terms of reference of the full Council, a Committee or the Cabinet, or which by law have to be made by members, are delegated to officers.
2.2 In addition to this Scheme of Delegation, the full Council, Committees and Cabinet may delegate powers to officers, unless their terms of reference prohibit further delegation. Such delegations include the full range of powers to discharge the function, unless the decision of the member body limits these powers.
2.3 In this Scheme of Delegation, executive powers have been delegated to officers by the Leader of the Council under the Local Government Act 2000. Non-executive powers are delegated by the Council under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.
2.4 Where a power has been delegated to an officer the person or body that has delegated the function is not prevented from exercising the function.
2.5 Where a power is delegated to an officer "in consultation" with a member or another officer, the law requires that the discretion of the officer is not fettered. This means that the decision must be taken by the officer alone, and must not be a joint decision with the member or other officer, or a decision by a member in consultation with the officer.
2.6 The exercise of delegated powers by officers is subject to some qualifications. These are set out in the section Exercise of Delegated Powers, below.
3.1 Except where the law or this Constitution requires a function to be discharged personally by a specific officer, or by an appointed deputy, any power delegated to the Chief Executive, an Executive Director, the Chief Fire Officer, the Director of Finance, the Chief Legal Officer or the Director of Public Health may be delegated by them to another officer, orally or in writing.
3.2 In the absence or the incapacity or the vacancy of the post of an Executive Director, an Assistant Director in his or her directorate may discharge any functions within the Assistant Director's area of responsibility.
3.3 Except where otherwise provided by law, when an officer exercises powers delegated to him or her by another officer, he or she does so in the name of the person who has delegated the power, who will remain ultimately responsible for ensuring the power has been exercised at the appropriate level by a suitably qualified and competent officer.
3.4 Any officer who is empowered by further delegation to take a decision may refer the decision to the person that delegated the power.
4.1 This Scheme of Delegation empowers officers to take decisions that are not specified as decisions of the full Council, a Committee or Cabinet. However:
(a) the Leader of the Council may decide that any Key Decision that an officer proposes to take, must be taken by the Cabinet.
(b) any officer who is empowered by this Scheme of Delegation or by a member body to take a decision may refer the decision to an appropriate member body.
4.2 Officers should note that members are only empowered by law to take certain staffing decisions. These are set out in the terms of reference of the full Council, Chief Officers Committee and Staffing Committee. 4.1 (b) above does not operate so as to permit officers to refer decisions to members that members are not by law able to take.
5.1 When exercising delegated powers, officers must:
(a) comply with the law, the Council's Constitution and the Council's properly approved policies and procedures (in this order of priority) when discharging functions of the Council;
(b) comply with any limitations or restrictions on their delegated powers contained in any Part of the Constitution;
(c) seek appropriate legal, finance and other specialist advice. Officers must have regard to any advice received;
(d) consult the Chief Legal Officer and (except in the case of a decision of the Director of Finance) the Director of Finance before taking a delegated Key Decision;
(e) consult the Chief Legal Officer before approving any settlement agreements with employees;
(f) be satisfied before taking a decision, that they are authorised to take the decision and make and retain an appropriate record (in accordance with corporate procedures) of the decision and their authority to take it;
(g) unless permitted by the Chief Executive during a civil emergency, not commit the Council to a course of action that will result in a financial obligation beyond the approved budget (revenue or capital) of their Directorate or the Council.
(h) not delegate powers to the Council's contractors, consultants or other third parties except where authorised in the Scheme of Delegation.
6.1 Only the Chief Executive, Executive Directors, the CCCS Assistant Directors, the Director of Finance and the Chief Fire Officer have the power to take delegated Key Decisions.
6.2 An officer cannot delegate the power to take Key Decisions.
6.3 Each of the officers specified in paragraph 6.1 has power to take a Key Decision relating to the functional area of another officer, if delay in taking the decision, owing to the absence of that officer, would seriously prejudice the Council's or the public interest.
6.4 A Key Decision taken by an officer is subject to the rules of call in. [insert link]
7.1 Appendix 1 of this Part sets out the officers appointed as "proper officers" for certain statutory functions.
7.2 An officer who is appointed as a "proper officer" must carry out functions personally, subject to any statutory provision for the appointment of one or more deputies.
8. General Powers of the Chief Executive, Director of Finance, Executive Directors and the Chief Fire Officer
8.1 The Chief Executive, Executive Directors, the Director of Finance and the Chief Fire Officer each have a general power to:
a) discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions that are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members, implementing decisions, undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which they are responsible;
b) exercise any function specified as being the responsibility of their post (and any function for which they have been allocated or re-allocated responsibility by the Chief Executive) in any Part of the Constitution;
c) commence, defend, settle or involve the Council in any potential or actual civil or criminal proceedings arising within their functional area in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer.
d) sign any document in relation to their functional area with the exception (unless otherwise provided in this Scheme of Delegation) of certificates under the Local Government Contracts Act 1997, the Council's Accounts, and Contracts and Deeds where specific provisions are made in the Contract Procedure Rules.
8.2 Any Executive Director, the Director of Finance and the Chief Fire Officer may be appointed by the Chief Executive to deputise in her/his absence and in the absence of the Deputy Chief Executive, and when so appointed is authorised to exercise all the powers of the Chief Executive (including those of the Head of Paid service).
9.1 The Chief Executive is the Council's Head of Paid Service appointed in accordance with section 4 Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and has all the powers of the Head of Paid Service.
9.2 The Chief Executive is the returning officer for county elections appointed in accordance with section 5 of Representation of the People Act 1983.
9.3 The Chief Executive is appointed as the "proper officer" for the specified statutory functions set out in Appendix 1 of this Part.
9.4 The Chief Executive has power to exercise any function of the Head of Paid Service contained in any other Part of this Constitution.
9.5 The Chief Executive has power to exercise any function of the Council which is not specified in the Constitution or in law as a function that must be exercised by elected members, except the statutory functions of the Monitoring Officer.
9.6 The Chief Executive has specific powers to:
(a) take any action and incur expenditure and delegate responsibility to take action and incur expenditure in the event of a civil emergency;
(b) take any decision where any delay incurred in taking the decision would seriously prejudice the Council's or the public interest to the extent that it is appropriate to exercise emergency powers. In exercising this power, the Chief Executive must consult with the Leader of the Council or in his/her absence, the nominated deputy, unless the delay caused by doing so would itself be likely to result in danger to life or property. The Chief Executive will report any such decision to the next meeting of Council;
(c) appoint proper officers of the Council and where there is no proper officer appointed for a specified function, the Chief Executive shall be the "proper officer" unless prohibited by law, until an appointment has been made;
(d) allocate or re-allocate responsibility for functions in the Scheme of Delegation to Officers provided that any changes applicable for a period of more than six months must be reported to Council as a change to the Scheme of Delegation.
10.1 The Executive Director - People is the Council's:
(a) Director of Adult Social Services appointed in accordance with Section 6 (A1) Local Authority Social Services Act 1970
(b) Director of Children's Services appointed in accordance with Section 18 Children Act 2004 and designated person for the purposes of Section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
10.2 The Executive Director - People has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Executive and may exercise all the powers of the Chief Executive (including those of Head of Paid Service) during the absence or incapacity of or during the vacancy of the post of, Chief Executive.
10.3 The Executive Director - People has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members, implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) adults' services;
(b) children and young people's services;
(c) education and skills;
(d) public health (except the statutory functions of the Director of Public Health);
(e) the provision of residential and day services to children and adults including those provided by Cumbria Care ("Provider Services");
(f) integration of health and social care services;
(g) any other services allocated to the Executive Director by the Chief Executive.
10.4 The Executive Director - People has specific powers to:
(a) determine, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder whether to undertake a consultation on a school organisation proposal where the Council is the proposer, provided that, decisions relating to school organisation must be referred to Cabinet for determination;
(b) determine, following consultation with the Chair of the Holehird Trust grant applications for sums of less than £500, which cannot reasonably be deferred to the next meeting of the Trust, reporting all grants approved under this paragraph to the next meeting of the Trust;
(c) nominate local authority governors to maintained schools in consultation with the relevant local member or the Chair and Vice Chair of the relevant Local Committee.
11.1 The Assistant Director - Organisational Change is the Council's Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO).
11.2 The Assistant Director - Customer and Community Services is the Council's Scrutiny Officer.
11.3 The CCCS Assistant Directors each have the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members, implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which they are responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) strategic commissioning;
(b) procurement and contract management;
(c) corporate governance;
(d) organisational change;
(e) corporate people management;
(f) policy and scrutiny;
(g) information and communications technology;
(h) facilities management;
(i) digital technology and the Service Centre;
(j) business support;
(k) corporate health and safety;
(l) community services, including libraries;
(m) the Registration Service;
(n) any other services allocated to the Executive Director by the Chief Executive.
11.4 In exercising these powers any of the CCCS Assistant Directors can act independently and is not required to consult with any of the other Assistant Directors.
11.5 Before exercising the power to award community investment grants the relevant CCCS Assistant Directors will consult with the relevant local member(s) and the chair and vice-chair of the relevant local committee.
12.1 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members, implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) highways;
(b) transport;
(c) traffic;
(d) parking and parking enforcement
(e) rights of way;
(f) common land;
(g) control of development, including minerals and waste;
(h) nationally significant infrastructure planning;
(i) development management;
(j) economic development;
(k) trading standards;
(l) weights and measures;
(m) regulation of sports grounds;
(n) Waste Authority functions;
(o) Flood Authority functions;
(p) land and property;
(q) the environment;
(r) the Port of Workington;
(s) implementation of the approved Capital Programme
(t) any other services allocated to the Executive Director by the Chief Executive.
12.2 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure has the specific powers to:
(a) appoint members of the Cumbria Valuation Tribunal, in consultation with the President of the Tribunal, the Council's main political group leaders and Chairs of the relevant local committees;
(b) authorise the issue of notices under Sections 14(2) (a) and (b) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in circumstances where in the opinion of the Executive Director it is necessary for the restrictions or prohibitions sought to come into force without delay;
(c) make Traffic Regulation Orders which involve the introduction of charging for on-street residents permits following a decision by the appropriate member body to introduce charges;
(d) approve local impact reports in relation to nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder.
12.3 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure has power to determine the following town and country planning applications:
(a) any application for planning permission (not being an application submitted by the Council or the Council and a third party, or by an employee or a member of the Council) that:
i. falls below the threshold of an Environmental Impact Assessment; and
ii. is in accordance with the provisions of the Development Plan; and
iii. has not been recommended for refusal by a Town or Parish Council; and
iv. is not contrary to substantive written representations received; and
v. has not attracted a request for determination by committee in accordance with the provisions of Part 6G of the Constitution;
(b) any application for a certificate of lawfulness made under sections 191 and 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act (not being an application submitted by an employee or a member of the Council);
(c) any application that is not defined in the relevant regulations as an application for planning permission, including submissions under conditions and non-material amendments.
In paragraph 12.3 "Substantive" means representations that are capable of being material planning considerations.
12.4 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure will consult with the relevant local member(s) and the Chair and Vice Chair of the relevant local committee in exercising the following powers:
(a) implementation of the highways revenue budget and capital programme;
(b) authorisation of applications to the Magistrates Court for stopping up or diversion of highways within their Area, under the Highways Act 1980;
(c) exercise of powers under the Cycle Tracks Act 1984;
(d) authorisation of schemes for the making up and adoptions of private streets under Part XI the Highways Act 1980;
(e) consideration of Public Spaces Protection Orders proposed to be made by the relevant district/borough council under sections 59 to 75 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which restrict a public right of way;
12.5 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure will consult with the Chair and Vice Chair of the relevant local committee before entering into a funding agreement with a District Council in respect of a project funded under the Town Fund, Levelling-Up Fund, Future High Street Fund or any other similar government programme that provides funding for local schemes and which falls within the Local Committees responsibility under 5.1.2(a) and (b) of Part 2D: Local Committees.
12.6 The Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure is the Duty Holder under the Marine Safety Code from time to time in force for the Port of Workington.
13.1 The Chief Fire Officer has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members, implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) Fire and Rescue Service;
(b) Resilience and Emergency Planning;
(c) Any other services allocated or re-allocated to the Chief Fire Officer by the Chief Executive.
13.2 The Chief Fire Officer is the Scheme Manager for the Fire Pension Scheme.
13.3 The Chief Fire Officer has the powers of an Executive Director to commence procurement and award contracts in his/her functional area.
14.1 The Director of Finance is the Council's chief finance officer appointed in accordance with section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972.
14.2 The Director of Finance may appoint one or more deputy Section 151 Officers each of whom has power to exercise all the powers and duties of the Section 151 Officer during the absence or incapacity of or during the vacancy of the role of, the Section 151 Officer.
14.3 The Director of Finance has power to exercise any function of the Director of Finance or Section 151 Officer contained in any other Part of this Constitution.
14.4 The Director of Finance is appointed as the "proper officer" for the specified statutory functions set out in Appendix 1 of this Part.
14.5 The Director of Finance is empowered personally to sign certificates under the Local Government and Contracts Act 1997 on behalf of the Council.
14.6 The Director of Finance has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members or another officer, implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) accounting and financial planning;
(b) audit and risk;
(c) pensions and financial services (including treasury management and banking);
(d) performance;
(e) the financing of the Capital Programme;
(f) any other services allocated to the Director of Finance by the Chief Executive.
14.7 The Director of Finance has the following specific powers:
(a) pay pensions, gratuities, grants etc. to members, other beneficiaries and creditors of the Cumbria Pension Fund, in accordance with the Superannuation and Pensions Acts and Regulations and agreed policies of the Council;
(b) in consultation with members of the Investment Sub-Group (if any) of the Pensions Committee, to:
i. appoint, or terminate the contracts of, investment managers with holdings of less than 5% of the portfolio of the Cumbria Local Government Pension Fund;
ii. approve the investment or disinvestment in any assets with a value of less than 5% of the portfolio of the Cumbria Local Government Pension Fund where the assets meet the criteria set out in the Cumbria Local Government Pension Fund's asset allocation strategy;
iii. establish and review performance benchmarks and targets for investment.
14.8 Subject to paragraph 14.7 above, the Director of Finance has the powers of an Executive Director to commence procurement and award contracts in his/her functional area.
14.9 With regard to contracts incidental to the functions of the Cumbria Pensions Fund, the Director of Finance has, in addition, power to modify, vary and terminate such contracts.
15.1 The Chief Legal Officer is the Council's Monitoring Officer appointed in accordance with sections 5 and 5A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and has power to exercise all the powers and duties of the Monitoring Officer.
15.2 The Chief Legal Officer may appoint one or more deputy Monitoring Officers each of whom has power to exercise all the powers and duties of the Monitoring Officer during the absence or incapacity, conflict from acting or vacancy of the role.
15.3 The Chief Legal Officer is appointed as the "proper officer" for the specified statutory functions set out in Appendix 1 of this Part.
15.4 The Chief Legal Officer is appointed to act as the Senior Responsible Officer for the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
15.5 The Chief Legal Officer is empowered personally to sign certificates under the Local Government and Contracts Act 1997 on behalf of the Council.
15.6 The Chief Legal Officer has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members (except Key Decisions), implementing decisions and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) Legal and Democratic Services;
(b) Coroners Services;
(c) any other services allocated or re-allocated to the Chief Legal Officer by the Chief Executive.
15.7 The Chief Legal Officer has power to exercise any function of the Chief Legal Officer or Monitoring Officer contained in any other Part of this Constitution.
15.8 The Chief Legal Officer has the specific powers to:
(a) grant dispensations to elected or co-opted members to allow them, where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council, or any of its committees or sub-committees, or the Cabinet or any committee or sub-committee of the Cabinet, to participate in any discussion of the matter in which they have the disclosable pecuniary interest at the meeting or to participate in any vote, or further vote, taken on the matter at the meeting; in any of the following circumstances:
i. that so many members of the body have disclosable pecuniary interests that it would impede the transaction of business;
ii. that without the dispensation, the representation of different political groups at the meeting would be so upset as to alter the likely outcome of the vote;
iii. that without a dispensation no member of the Cabinet would be able to participate in a matter before Cabinet;
(b) make minor amendments to the Constitution, including to update the Constitution in accordance with changes to legislation, provided that the amendment does not materially change any principles previously approved by the Council;
(c) approve claims for expenses made by elected and co-opted members;
(d) sign any document on behalf of the Council;
(e) execute under seal any document of the Council;
(f) serve any statutory or other notice on behalf of the Council;
(g) issue, defend, settle, conduct or participate in any legal proceedings;
(h) settle any potential legal proceedings;
(i) authorise officers to prosecute, or defend, or appear in proceedings under section 223 of the Local Government Act 1972;
(j) approve the Council's response to any investigation carried out by the Local Government Ombudsman;
(k) approve the Council's response to any request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2003.
(l) to deal with the initial stages of the disciplinary procedure for the statutory officers (Chief Executive and S151 Officer), in conjunction with the appointed Chair of the Chief Officers Committee.
(m) to deal with the initial stages of allegations under the grievance procedure against the Chief Executive or S151 Officer.
(n) to deal with the initial stages of allegations under the Bullying and Harassment Procedure against the Chief Executive or S151 Officer.
16.1 The Director of Public Health has been designated by the Council to discharge the statutory function of Director of Public Health in accordance with the National Health Service Act 2006.
16.2 The Director of Public Health has the full range of powers necessary to discharge the Council's functions, including taking decisions which are not specified in the Constitution or in law as having to be taken by elected members (except Key Decisions) and undertaking efficient management of the services, contracts and staff for which he/she is responsible in the following functional areas:
(a) the statutory functions of the Director of Public Health;
(b) employee health and wellbeing;
(c) "Active Cumbria";
(d) any other services allocated or reallocated to the Director of Public Health by the Chief Executive.
17.1 The Chief Executive has the power under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to authorise the use of covert human intelligence sources in respect of vulnerable individuals and to authorise surveillance where it is likely that knowledge of confidential information will be acquired.
17.2 The Assistant Director - Environment and Enterprise, Assistant Director - Highways and Transport and the Assistant Director - Integration and Partnerships each have power to issue all other relevant authorisations under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. In the absence of both of these officers the Monitoring Officer may issue authorisations.
17.3 These powers must be exercised personally by the officers specified in this Part.
18.1 Any officer who is designated under this Scheme of Delegation or appointed by Council or by the Cabinet to act as a shareholders' representative on behalf of the Council for a company in which the Council is a shareholder is authorised to:
(a) act as shareholders' representative in accordance with the Companies Act 2006;
(b) exercise all the Council's powers as a shareholder of the company, subject to any limitations in this Scheme of Delegation; and
(c) appoint a deputy shareholder's representative for any company for which they have been appointed shareholders' representative.
18.2 Any person appointed as a deputy shareholders' representative for a company is authorised to exercise the powers of the shareholders' representative in the absence or incapacity of the shareholder's representative or if there is no shareholder's representative appointed for the company.