Delegations
Why Delegate?
Like every other
Local Authority, Stirling Council can only take decisions on matters or provide services allowed by
statute (the law). All decisions, no matter how large or how small, would need to be taken at meetings
of the Council if it wasn’t for the fact that the Council has the power to delegate certain decision-making
powers.
If the Council decides to delegate decision-making, it must publish details of this in a Scheme of Delegation. The Council’s Scheme describes the delegations that have been agreed by the Council and it explains how these delegations are meant to be carried out.
Extent of Delegation
Stirling Council’s approach to delegation has been influenced by its commitment to facilitate community participation in the decision-making process and to delegate to local managers. The result is that the Council has reserved very few powers to itself and has agreed extensive delegations to Officers. However, powers have also been delegated to Committees and Sub-Committees (which the Council has chosen to call "Panels").
Certain of the Council’s powers cannot be delegated, but subject to these exceptions all other powers can be delegated. However, the Council may only delegate to a Committee, or a Sub-Committee, or an Officer of the Council, or a Joint Committee set up with one or more, other Councils. No decision-making powers can be delegated to an individual Councillor. This means that Councillors cannot act on their own. They can only take decisions at Council, Committee or Panel meetings.
