Liverpool Scheme of Delegation for Councillors

General Governance and Administration England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

The Scheme of Delegation sets out which decisions are reserved for full council, which are for committees and which powers are delegated to officers in Liverpool, England, and explains practical steps for councillors to follow when proposing decisions or raising enforcement matters. The council constitution records delegated functions and officer authorisations on the Liverpool City Council website Council constitution - Liverpool City Council[1].

How the Scheme works

The scheme groups powers by function (for example planning, licensing, housing and environmental health) and names the post-holders who may act without full committee approval. It explains limits, conditions and reporting requirements, and how councillors can request that a matter is referred to committee.

The Scheme clarifies who may take urgent decisions on behalf of the council.

Penalties & Enforcement

The Scheme of Delegation itself describes who may make enforcement decisions but does not list fixed penalties; the applicable fines and sanctions for specific offences are set out in the relevant statutory or regulatory provisions and in departmental enforcement policies, which are linked from Liverpool City Council service pages Council constitution - Liverpool City Council[1].

  • Enforcer: delegated officers within the relevant service (for example Planning Enforcement, Licensing, Environmental Health).
  • Inspection and complaints: report breaches via the council complaints and service pages or the specific service contact points listed below Make a complaint - Liverpool City Council[2].
  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited constitution page; amounts depend on the underlying legislation or licensing regime and on departmental policy.
  • Escalation: the constitution sets decision routes but does not list first/repeat offence amounts; refer to the specific service enforcement policy for escalation details.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: officers may issue enforcement notices, remediation orders, suspension or revocation of licences, or pursue prosecution in the magistrates' or crown courts as authorised by law.
  • Appeals and reviews: routes include statutory appeals under the relevant Acts, internal review mechanisms and complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman; time limits vary by regime and are specified in the legislation or the service guidance.
Check the relevant service page for specific penalty tables and statutory appeal periods.

Applications & Forms

Forms and application processes are maintained by the service responsible for the function. The Scheme of Delegation does not publish application fees or form numbers centrally; look up the relevant service page for the up-to-date form, fee and submission method. For complaints and governance queries submit via the council complaints page Make a complaint - Liverpool City Council[2].

  • Planning applications and enforcement: submit via the planning portal or Liverpool planning pages; fees and forms are on the planning pages.
  • Licensing applications: premises and personal licences use council licensing forms; fees set by the council or statutory scale.
  • Environmental health: statutory complaint and permit forms are available on the environmental health service pages.
If unsure which form to use, contact the service listed in the Help and Support section for guidance.

Practical steps for councillors

  • Refer matters to committee: request via the committee services or the relevant committee chair within the local timescales set in the constitution.
  • Raise an enforcement issue: report evidence to the relevant service and copy your case to the relevant director or ward officer.
  • Seek review of an officer decision: use the council complaints and review routes; follow statutory appeal windows where they apply.

FAQ

Who decides which matters are delegated to officers?
The council sets delegations in its constitution; council or committee resolutions can change the Scheme of Delegation.
Can a councillor call in a delegated decision for committee review?
Yes; the constitution includes provisions for referral to committee or for scrutiny, subject to the rules and time limits in the constitution and committee procedure rules.
Where do I find enforcement penalties?
Penalties are set out in the legislation or specific service enforcement policies and are not listed in the central Scheme of Delegation; contact the relevant service or check the council service pages.

How-To

  1. Identify the issue and the relevant service (planning, licensing, environmental health).
  2. Gather evidence: photographs, dates, complainant details and previous correspondence.
  3. Submit to the service using the official form or complaints page and inform the relevant ward councillors.
  4. Request escalation or committee referral via committee services if you consider the officer decision should be reviewed.

Key Takeaways

  • The constitution defines who can act and the limits of delegated powers.
  • Fines and sanctions are set by the underlying law or service policies and are not listed centrally in the Scheme of Delegation.
  • Use the council complaints and service contacts to report breaches and request reviews.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Liverpool City Council - Council constitution
  2. [2] Liverpool City Council - Make a complaint

Categories

General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data