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How the committee system works

About the new committee system

Following a public referendum in May 2022, our governance arrangements have changed from a Mayor and Cabinet model to a committee system.

The council's committee system is led by 70 councillors, representing 34 wards. Councillor Tony Dyer has been appointed as the Leader of the Council.

The structure of the council's new governance arrangements was designed by the Committee Model Working Group and approved by Full Council.

pdf Easy Read version of information about the new committee system (4.52 MB) .

How decisions will be made

Under the committee system and rules set out in our Constitution, decisions are taken by either:

  • Full Council
  • Policy Committees
  • Regulatory Committees
  • Area Committees
  • Other committees, such as the Downs Committee and the Health and Wellbeing Board
  • Council officers

The change in governance also introduces some new roles and responsibilities for elected members.

Key decisions

Key decisions are taken by Policy Committees where:

  • the council will need to spend significant sums of money, or make large savings
  • decisions will have a significant impact on communities in two or more wards in the city
Full Council

Full Council is made up of all 70 councillors. Meetings of Full Council are held in public and chaired by the Lord Mayor.

Policy Committees

The new committee structure includes 8 policy committees that broadly align to one of the council's Corporate Strategy themes.

Regulatory Committees

A number of regulatory committees meet to carry out the council's regulatory functions.

Regulatory committees are committees that the council has to have by law.

Development Control

There are two Development Control Committees that regulate land use and new building in Bristol. They decide major or controversial planning applications. Applications are referred to the committee by senior council officers and ward councillors.

The Development Control Committees in Bristol are:

Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee

Chair of the Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee is Councillor John Goulandris.

The Public Rights of Way and Greens Committee is responsible for the registration and protection of common land and town and village greens and granting permission and licences for work or changes to public rights of way and greens.

Public Safety and Protection Committee and Licensing Committee

Chair of the Public Safety and Protection Committee is Councillor Sarah Classick.

Chair of the Licensing Committee is Councillor Fabian Breckels.

Public Safety and Protection Committee and Licensing Committee carry out the council's licensing responsibilities.

 

Area Committees

There are nine area committees for the following areas:

  • Area Committee 1: Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston, Henbury and Brentry, Southmead and Horfield
  • Area Committee 2: Stoke Bishop, Westbury on Trym and Henleaze, Redland and Bishopston and Ashley Down
  • Area Committee 3: Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham and Hotwells and Harbourside
  • Area Committee 4: Central, Ashley, Lawrence Hill and Easton
  • Area Committee 5: Lockleaze, Eastville, Hillfields and Frome Vale
  • Area Committee 6: St George West, St George Central and St George Troopers Hill
  • Area Committee 7: Southville, Bedminster, Windmill Hill and Filwood
  • Area Committee 8: Hartcliffe and Withywood, Bishopsworth and Hengrove and Whitchurch Park
  • Area Committee 9: Knowle, Stockwood, Brislington West and Brislington East
Other committees

The council will continue to operate a number of other committees to support the delivery of its statutory duties and responsibilities.

A full description of the functions and responsibilities of these committees are in the council's Constitution.

Human Resources Committee

Chair of the Human Resources Committee is Councillor Kye Dudd.

The Human Resources Committee is responsible for:

  • decisions on personnel issues for senior staff and our pay policy
  • the wellbeing, performance and employment practices of our workforce
  • implementing equality policies relating to council employees

Audit Committee

Chair of the Audit Committee is Councillor Tim Rippington.

The Audit Committee is responsible for:

  • oversight of the council's accounts, financial performance and governance arrangements
  • codes of conduct and protocols which affect councillors and officers of the council

Selection Committee

The Selection committee is responsible for:

  • the appointment and starting salary of chief officers and deputy chief officers
  • the terms and conditions on which employees hold office

Appeals Committee

The Appeals committee is responsible for:

  • employees' appeals against dismissal
  • decisions on renewal and discharge of guardianship under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983

Value and Ethics Sub-committee

The Value and Ethics Sub-committee deal with:

  • all matters relating to the ethical framework affecting members of the Council under Part 1 Chapter 7 Localism Act 2011 as amended
  • other relevant legislation including regulations, directions and guidance

Health and Wellbeing Board

The Health and Wellbeing Board is responsible for:

  • encourage integrated working between commissioners of NHS, public health and social care services to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community
  • assess the needs of the local community through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and consider the need or likely need capable of being met or affected by Local Authority or CCG functions

Harbour Committee

The Harbour Committee is responsible for the strategic management of the council's function as a statutory harbour authority.

The terms of reference will be approved at the first meeting in 2024/2025. The terms of reference will include details on responsibilities, membership, co-opted members and voting rights.

Downs Committee

The Downs Committee was created by The Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act 1861 (the Downs Act') to manage the Downs.

Escalation panel

Full Council has approved the establishment of an Escalation Panel, which would consider matters escalated to it, in line with the principles set out in Article 14 of the council's constitution.

External committees

The council also has a responsibility to sit on some external bodies to discharge its statutory functions. These external bodies include the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee and committees of The West of England Combined Authority.

Committee Model Working Group

The Committee Model Working Group is responsible for:

  • developing the design principles for the structure of the committee model 
  • ensuring that the committee model will support democratic decision making
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