The Decision-Making Structures

Council decisions are made either collectively or individually by Councillors or chief officers (under delegated authority).

There are seven meetings per year of the full Council (75 members).  This includes the Annual Meeting held in May, when the City Council elects its Mayor and selects its leaders and Councillors to serve on Committees for the forthcoming municipal year, together with a further meeting in March to agree the Council's budget.

The Council makes major decisions, such as setting the Council's annual budget or the Council Tax.  It also considers the decisions and recommendations of the Cabinet and other Council Committees.

The Council's new Constitution, adopted in May 2002 introduced an executive 'Cabinet structure' which gives all Councillors who are members of the Cabinet a specific responsibility for an area of the Council's activities (a portfolio).  The Cabinet meets monthly, and has authority to take important decisions about Council policy and services.

The Council's Committees meet as often as required to make decisions about services for which they are responsible and have delegated authority from the Council.

Some decision-making powers are delegated to Chief Officers so that they can more efficiently manage the day-to-day business of their services.

How Meetings are Managed

All Council meetings, from full Council to the smallest Committee, are controlled by a Chair (each Committee has its own Chair - selected at Annual Council).

The Chair is responsible for the smooth-running of the business of the meeting, which is set out on an agenda, circulated by the Administration Department in advance of each meeting.  Most agenda items are usually introduced by a written report from officers summarising the issue requiring a decision, and outlining possible solutions and recommendations.  Only Councillors may vote at Council meetings, but officers often attend at the invitation of Councillors to give advice or provide information.

Have Your Say

Have your say in the Council's decision-making process.

Key Document attached to this section:

Council Constitution 

The above document is in PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. 

Download Acrobat.

More information?

Contact Democratic Services, Civic Centre, Sunderland, SR2 7DN.
Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.15pm, Friday 8.30 - 4.45 pm.
e-mail Committees@sunderland.gov.uk or tel: (0191) 553 1030

last updated 20/07/04