Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters

Financial management
The management of the Council’s financial affairs will be conducted in accordance with the financial rules set out in Part 4 of this Constitution.

Contracts
Every contract made by the Council will comply with the Contracts Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of this Constitution.

Legal proceedings
The Director of Legal and Administrative Services is authorised to institute, defend or participate in any legal proceedings in any case where such action is necessary to give effect to decisions of the Council or in any case where the Director of Legal and Administrative Services considers that such action is necessary to protect the Council’s interests.

Authentication of documents
Where any document is necessary to any legal procedure or proceedings on behalf of the Council, it will be signed by the Director of Legal and Administrative Services or other person authorised by him, unless any enactment otherwise authorises or requires, or the Council has given requisite authority to some other person.

All contracts entered into on behalf of the local authority in the course of the discharge of an executive function shall be made in writing. Such contracts must either be signed by at least two officers of the authority or made under the common seal of the council attested by at least one officer.

Common Seal of the Council
The Common Seal of the Council will be kept in a safe place in the custody of the Director of Legal and Administrative Services. A decision of the Council, or of any part of it, will be sufficient authority for sealing any document necessary to give effect to the decision. The Common Seal will be affixed to those documents which in the opinion of the Director of Legal and Administrative Services should be sealed. The affixing of the Common Seal will be attested by the Director of Legal and Administrative Services or some other person authorised under the City Council's Standing Orders.