Officers authorised to take formal decisions
Part 15 of the Constitution delegates many decisions to members of Corporate Leadership Team (CLT). It also allows CLT members to nominate other Essex County Council (ECC) officers to make delegated decisions.
Most decisions are delegated to an officer. The following decisions are never delegated:
- key decisions
- decisions contrary to an ECC policy
- decisions where there have been objections to a statutory proposal (such as a proposed traffic order)
- setting fees and charges (other than inflationary increases or charges for one-off events)
- making a compulsory purchase order or buying land in advance of requirements
- decisions for which there is no approved budget
Each member of CLT has nominated key staff in their area who are authorised to take certain decisions. The nominations made by each executive director. In most instances officers at layer 2 and 3 have authority to make decisions.
- Chief Executive (PDF, 78 KB)
- Director, Legal and Assurance (PDF, 152 KB)
- Director, Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities (PDF, 99 KB)
- Executive Director, Adult Social Care (PDF, 81 KB)
- Executive Director, Children and Families (PDF, 132 KB)
- Executive Director, Climate, Environment and Customer Services
- Climate, Environment and Customer Services (highways) (PDF, 111 KB)
- Climate, Environment and Customer Services (non highways) (PDF, 104 KB)
- Executive Director, Corporate Services (PDF, 80 KB)
- Executive Director, People, Policy, Economy and Public Health (PDF, 100 KB)
Sometimes more than one officer is authorised to take a particular decision. In that case it doesn't matter which officer takes the decision.
Officers cannot take decisions by committee or panel. Panels can make recommendations to the Cabinet Member or delegated officer but they cannot make decisions.
Electronic Sealing Protocol
Electronic sealing of documents on behalf of Essex County Council must be undertaken in accordance with the council's electronic sealing protocol (PDF, 62 KB).