Local authorities have the power to appoint officers as they think necessary to carry out their functions, but there are particular roles for which they are required to appoint some officers.

Those officers have personal duties and councils will need to ensure that they provide them with appropriate resources to meet them. Local authorities also need to ensure that they take account of advice given and action taken by those officers in the course of those duties. However, councils are likely to work most effectively and enable their statutory officers to fulfil their duties most effectively if they involve them throughout the decision-making process.