Part 2 – Decision Making

Part 2 of the Portsmouth City Council Constitution explains who is responsible for making decisions and how those decisions are taken. It sets out which decisions are made by the Council, the Cabinet, committees, or delegated to senior officers.

This part of the Constitution helps ensure decision making is clear, lawful and transparent, and that responsibilities are properly defined across the Council.

Part 2 is particularly useful if you want to understand:

• which committees are responsible for specific types of decisions
• how Cabinet portfolios are organised
• how and when decisions are delegated to officers
• how the Council works with other authorities through joint arrangements

Each section of Part 2 is available as a separate PDF document. Some PDFs may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need any document in an alternative format, such as accessible Word, large print or plain text, please contact us and we will help. All files open in PDF format.

• 2.0 Decision making: purpose and content (PDF)
  Explains how decision‑making responsibilities are organised across the Council.
• 2.1 Planning Committee (PDF)
  Sets out the Planning Committee’s powers and responsibilities for planning decisions.
• 2.2 Licensing Committee (PDF)
  Explains how licensing matters are considered and decided.
• 2.3 Governance, Audit and Standards (GAS) Committee (PDF)
  Covers oversight of governance, audit and standards of conduct.
• 2.4 Employment Committee (PDF)
  Sets out decision‑making responsibilities relating to employment matters.
• 2.s3 Cabinet portfolio responsibilities (PDF)
  Sets out the responsibilities of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members.
• 2.s4 Joint arrangements (PDF)
  Explains how the Council makes decisions jointly with other authorities and organisations.
• 2.s5 Chief Officers’ delegated authority (PDF)
  Provides an overview of decision‑making powers delegated to senior officers.
• 2.s5A Members Information Service (MIS) (PDF)
  Explains the service used to record and publish certain officer decisions.
• 2.s5B Delegation of decision making to officers (PDF)
  Explains how certain decisions are delegated to senior Council officers.
• 2.s5B Chief Executive – delegated authority (PDF)
  Sets out the decision‑making powers of the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service.
• 2.s5B City Solicitor (PDF)
  Sets out legal and monitoring officer decision‑making powers.
• 2.s5B Director of Adult Services (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Adult Services.
• 2.s5B Director of Children, Families and Education (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Children, Families and Education.
• 2.s5B Director of Corporate Services (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Corporate Services.
• 2.s5B Director of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services.
• 2.s5B Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services.
• 2.s5B Director of Finance and Resources (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Finance and Resources.
• 2.s5B Director of Regeneration (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Regeneration.
• 2.s5B Director of Public Health (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of Public Health.
• 2.s5B Director of the Port (PDF)
  Details the decision‑making powers delegated to the Director of the Port.
• 2.s5C Proper officer statutory appointments (PDF)
  Sets out statutory officer roles and responsibilities.