The council must continue to provide a wide range of services.
We do this either directly, or through our partnerships with a wide range of organisations. We provide over 700 services for people who live, work and visit Salford.
Most council services are mandatory, meaning we are required to provide them by law. Some of these services that we are required to provide are tightly controlled by central government, resulting in a similar level of service across the country (for example the administration of housing benefit). Other mandatory requirements (eg the library function) leave councils with some discretion over the level and type of service they provide.
Some council services and functions are discretionary. These are services a council can choose to provide but does not have to. They range from large economic regeneration projects, to the removal of wasp nests.
Councils can charge for discretionary services provided they are not prevented from doing so by other legislation and the council does not make a profit. Councils can charge for arts and entertainment activities, sport and recreational facilities and some pest control services.
We provide services either directly or in partnership with other organisations.
Image caption for 'What we do'
- Schools: pre-schol education, youth, adult, family community and education
- Children's and families' services: welfare, fostering, adoption and child protection
- Highways: non-trunk roads, bridges and street lighting
- Services for older people: including nursing, home, residential, day care, meals, services for people with a physical disability, learning disability or mental health need
- Housing: housing benefit, welfare services
- Recreation and sport: leisure centres, sports facilities, open spaces, parks, playgrounds, allotments, libraries, information services
- Environmental health: food safety, pollution, pest control, licensing - including alcohol, public entertainment, taxis, recycling and street cleaning
- Building and development control: planning policy, economic investment, regeneration, elections, emergency planning