Who decides on street-trading and market licences?

Service managers in Licensing exercise delegated powers; applications and requirements are set out on the council licensing pages.

Can I appeal a delegated decision?

Yes; appeal routes depend on the service and may include internal review, sub-committee hearings or formal statutory appeals as stated on the relevant service page.

How do I report an alleged bylaw breach?

Report breaches to the relevant service (Environmental Health, Regulatory Services or Parking) using the links in the Help and Support section of the article.

Scheme of Delegation and Decision Powers - Manchester

General Governance and Administration England 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

Manchester, England relies on a clear Scheme of Delegation to define which council bodies and officers may make bylaws, licensing and regulatory decisions on behalf of the city. This guide explains how delegated decision-making works in Manchester, which departments enforce delegated powers, and how residents and businesses can apply, appeal or report breaches.

Understanding the Scheme of Delegation

Under the council constitution, Council, committees and officers have specified responsibilities allocated in the Scheme of Delegation. See the council's constitution for the full Scheme of Delegation: Constitution - Scheme of Delegation^[1].

Who Can Exercise Decision Powers

Chief Executive and corporate directors where powers are delegated in the constitution.
Elected committees, sub-committees and chairs retain reserved or non-delegable functions under the constitution.
Service heads (for example Regulatory Services, Planning and Licensing) exercise operational delegations for enforcement and authorisations.

Delegations are recorded in the constitution and reviewed periodically.

Penalties & Enforcement

The constitution delegates decision-making and enforcement to named officers; enforcement of specific bylaws and delegated powers is carried out by services such as Regulatory Services, Environmental Health and Licensing. For licensing and operational enforcement arrangements see the council licensing pages: Licensing and permits^[2].

Fines: not specified on the cited page.
Escalation (first, repeat, continuing offences): not specified on the cited page.
Non-monetary sanctions: orders, abatement or remedial notices, licence suspensions or revocations, seizure and prosecution where statutory powers exist.
Enforcer: Regulatory Services, Environmental Health, Licensing and Parking enforcement teams carry out investigations and sanctions; contact links are in Help and Support below.
Appeals and review routes: vary by function (internal reviews, licensing sub-committee decisions or statutory appeal channels); specific time limits are not specified on the cited pages.
Defences and discretion: scope for reasonable excuse, permits, or agreed remediation exists under particular bylaws or licences but detailed defences are not listed on the cited pages.

Applications & Forms

Application forms for licences, permits and regulatory approvals are published by each service (Planning, Licensing, Environmental Health, Parking). Fee schedules and form names are provided on the relevant service pages linked in Help and Support. Where a specific form or fee is not shown on a cited page, it is not specified on the cited page.

If you are affected by a delegated decision, request the officer's written reasons promptly.

FAQ

Who decides on street-trading and market licences?: Service managers in Licensing exercise delegated powers; applications and requirements are set out on the council licensing pages.
Can I appeal a delegated decision?: Yes; appeal routes depend on the service and may include internal review, sub-committee hearings or formal statutory appeals as stated on the relevant service page.
How do I report an alleged bylaw breach?: Report breaches to the relevant service (Environmental Health, Regulatory Services or Parking) using the links in the Help and Support section below.

How-To

Identify the decision or licence type (planning, licensing, parking, environmental).
Gather supporting documents such as plans, photos, licence numbers or correspondence.
Contact the relevant service via the links in Help and Support to request forms or notify a breach.
If dissatisfied, follow the service's stated review or appeal route and seek legal advice if escalation is required.

Key Takeaways

The Manchester City Council constitution contains the formal Scheme of Delegation that allocates decision powers.
Enforcement and penalties vary by function and are carried out by named services; refer to the relevant service page for forms, fees and procedures.