Our constitution
Oxford City Council's constitution outlines how the Council operates, makes decisions, and ensures efficiency, transparency, and accountability. To learn more, view our constitution.
Grouping of responsibilities
Council responsibilities are legally categorised into three areas:
- Council responsibilities: These are typically handled by the full Council but may be delegated to committees or officers
- Executive responsibilities: Handled by the Council Leader, who may delegate to committees, individual councillors, or officers
- Local Choice responsibilities: The Council decides whether these fall under the Council or the Leader
Executive responsibilities
Our decision-making arrangements, following the "Strong Leader" model since May 2011, outline the distribution of executive responsibilities:
- Cabinet: Makes decisions on matters outlined in the Constitution and recommends policies and budget to the full Council
- Council officers: Handle decisions on executive responsibilities not covered in the Constitution
Additionally, each city councillor has a £1,500 annual budget for the benefit of their Ward.
Council responsibilities
These responsibilities include:
- Full Council: Makes final decisions on the Council's Budget and Policy Framework
- Oxford City Planning Committee: Deals with specific types of planning applications
- Planning Review Committee: Deals with applications determined called-in following determination at the Oxford City Planning Committee
- General Purposes Licensing Committee, and Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee: Recommends licensing policies for approval at Full Council and sets up the decision taking arrangements for individual applications
- General Purposes Licensing Casework Sub-Committee, and Licensing and Gambling Acts Casework Sub-Committee: Determines individual applications applicable to the relevant powers and duties for each sub-committee
Scrutiny
The Council's Scrutiny Committee reviews decisions, develops policy, and holds the Executive accountable. The Committee also sets up annual Working Groups at the first meeting of the year and Review Groups for shorter policy focussed reviews throughout the year. For involvement or more information, visit our Scrutiny page.
Miscellaneous committees
Other committees include:
- Appointments Committee: Appoints the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executives and Directors
- Investigations and Disciplinary Committee: Handles disciplinary hearings for the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executives and Directors
- Audit and Governance Committee: Oversees internal control, risk management, and financial reporting
- Standards Committee: Oversees the Councillors' Code of Conduct
