ABOUT THE COUNCIL

We are a diverse and complex business. We offer over 300 distinct services to our residents and the public, involving thousands of products and activities. To do this we employ over 14,000 staff in a variety of occupations.

Across the authority we are responsible for the implementation of a huge amount of national legislation and regulation.

Our relationships with our customers are not simple ones. Some people choose one of our services on a fairly competitive basis, such as borrowing a library book or visiting a museum. Others may have a legal relationship with us, such as a family where a child is under a care order, or a food outlet owner who needs to comply with hygiene regulations. Our customers are also the recipients of uniform city-wide service like rubbish and recycling collections and street cleaning.

We are also a democratically accountable organisation that needs to respond to the electorate's views, whilst at the same time trying to influence public behaviour in areas like carbon emissions and recycling.

Council budget

Details of council expenditure and income for 2010 to 2011....

Council performance

How we are performing according to the Audit Commission....

Who does what?

Our who does what pages explain how the council is structured, the main departments and services, who the management teams are, what councillors, scrutiny and cabinet do....