Who Really Runs Solihull Council?

​Local councils make decisions that affect everyday life — from planning and transport to adult social care, children’s services, and local spending.
This site explains how Solihull Council works: who holds power, how decisions are made, what scrutiny is meant to do, and where accountability can break down.
While examples are drawn from Solihull Council, the structures and processes described here apply to most borough, metropolitan, and county councils in England, particularly those facing full elections in 2026.

Who Really Runs Solihull Council?

​When people say “the council decided”, they often mean very different things.
This page explains who actually holds power at Solihull Council, who does what, and how decisions are shaped in practice.

The short answerSolihull Council is run by a combination of elected councillors and paid senior officers.

• Councillors are elected to make decisions and set direction.
• Officers are employed to manage services and carry out those decisions.

In theory, councillors are in charge.
In practice, power is shared — and sometimes unevenly.

The elected side: who voters chooseFull CouncilAll elected councillors sit on Full Council.
In theory, Full Council is the sovereign body:

• it sets the budget
• agrees major policies
• appoints the council leadership

In practice:

• it meets relatively infrequently
• much of its work is procedural
• many decisions arrive already shaped elsewhere

The Leader of the CouncilThe Leader is chosen by councillors, not directly by the public.
The Leader:

• sets political direction
• appoints the Cabinet
• controls which issues are prioritised

This role holds significant influence, especially when one political group has a strong majority.

The CabinetThe Cabinet is where most key decisions are made.
Cabinet members:

• are councillors
• each hold a specific portfolio (for example, housing, children’s services, adult care, transport)

Cabinet decisions often:

• approve major spending
• sign off policies
• authorise contracts

Once Cabinet has decided something, it is often difficult to reverse.

The ceremonial role: the MayorThe Mayor of Solihull is not the political leader of the council.
The Mayor’s role is:

• largely ceremonial
• chairing Full Council meetings
• representing the borough at civic events

The Mayor does not set policy and does not run the council.
This distinction is often misunderstood.

The paid side: the professional leadershipThe Chief ExecutiveThe Chief Executive is the most senior officer.
They:

• run the organisation day-to-day
• advise councillors
• oversee all council staff

The Chief Executive does not vote — but their influence is substantial, because:

• they control information flow
• they shape how options are presented
• they manage the senior officer team

Directors and senior officersEach major service area is run by a Director or senior officer.
They:

• manage staff and budgets
• implement council decisions
• prepare reports for councillors

Most decisions councillors see are prepared and framed by officers before they reach a meeting.

The statutory officers (key gatekeepers)Some officers have special legal duties.
At Solihull Council, these include:

• the Monitoring Officer (lawfulness and governance)
• the Section 151 Officer (finance and proper use of money)
• senior officers responsible for children’s services and adult social care

These officers:

• can block unlawful decisions
• advise councillors on risk
• shape what is considered “acceptable”

Their role is essential — but also powerful.

So who really runs things?In reality:

• Cabinet controls most decisions
• Officers control most information
• Scrutiny is meant to provide challenge
• Full Council often formalises outcomes

When scrutiny is weak, rushed, or sidelined, power concentrates.
Understanding this balance explains:

• why some decisions feel inevitable
• why debate can appear limited
• why elections still matter — but don’t change everything overnight

Why this matters to votersIf you want accountability, it helps to know:

• which councillors sit on Cabinet
• who chairs scrutiny committees
• which officers advise on key decisions

Asking “who decided this?” is often less useful than asking:
“Where did this decision actually come from?”

What this guide looks at nextThe next pages explain:

• how decisions are formally made
• what scrutiny is meant to do
• how residents can question or challenge decisions

Using Solihull Council as a real-world example — but in ways that apply to most councils in England.

Does this only apply to Solihull?This page uses Solihull Council as its example.
The same basic structure applies to most borough, metropolitan, and county councils in England.