The Cabinet - who's involved and how it works

What is the Cabinet?

The Cabinet (or 'Executive') is made up of the Mayor and executive members, whose role is to:

• provide leadership
• propose the budget and policy framework
• implement policy through chief officers.

Our Committee Meeting Finder gives details of forthcoming meetings, explains the arrangements for public participation and provides the papers on which the decisions are made.

The Mayor has ultimate responsibility for all major policy decisions.  Whilst some of this responsibility may be delegated to/shared with executive members, the Bristol Mayor has decided to retain this function. Key decision taking occurs at Cabinet meetings and the Mayor will take decisions following discussion with his executive members.

Executive members are councillors with special responsibilities over an area of the council's activities, for example environment. Their area of responsibility is known as their portfolio. Executive members may work with council officers and others to develop policy within their portfolio, which then comes to Cabinet for formal approval.

The work and decisions of the Cabinet is scrutinised by the council's scrutiny commissions. Councillors have the right, in certain circumstances, to 'call in' a Cabinet decision for consideration by a scrutiny commission.

The makeup of the Cabinet is determined by the Mayor.  The current Mayor's policy has been to invite councillors from all four parties who are represented on the Council into his Cabinet, however, as one party felt unable to participate at this time, the current Cabinet comprises members from only three of those parties.

Although the Cabinet only includes the Mayor and executive members, the Full Council includes all members (ie councillors and the Mayor).  The Full Council's role is to:

• approve or reject the budget and policy framework
• adopt the constitution
• appoint committees to be responsible for overview and scrutiny functions and regulatory matters.

Cabinet members and portfolios

The Cabinet has six members in addition to the Mayor. The Cabinet members and their portfolio's are as follows:

• Councillor Mark Bradshaw – transport, planning, strategic housing and regeneration.
• Councillor Simon Cook – leisure, tourism, licensing and community safety.
• Councillor Geoff Gollop – finance and corporate services.
• Councillor Gus Hoyt – neighbourhoods, environment and council housing.
• Councillor Barbara Janke – health and social care.
• Councillor Brenda Massey – children, young people and education.

The Mayor retains direct responsibility for other policy areas within his own portfolio.  

Councillor Geoff Gollop is the Deputy Mayor.

Further information can be found on our Councillor Finder.