▁powers ▁or ▁as ▁" not ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁responsibility ▁of ▁an ▁authority ' s ▁executive ". ▁This ▁latter ▁is ▁a ▁limited ▁list , ▁including ▁quasi - jud icial ▁dec isions ▁on ▁planning ▁and ▁lic ens ing , ▁and ▁certain ▁cer emon ial , ▁employ ment ▁and ▁legal ▁dec isions . ▁ ▁An ▁elected ▁mayor ▁( in ▁a ▁mayor ▁and ▁cabinet ▁system ) ▁also ▁has ▁the ▁power ▁to ▁appoint ▁up ▁to ▁nine ▁coun c ill ors ▁as ▁members ▁of ▁a ▁cabinet ▁and ▁to ▁delegate ▁powers , ▁either ▁to ▁them ▁as ▁individuals , ▁or ▁to ▁the ▁Mayor ▁and ▁Cab inet ▁committee , ▁or ▁to ▁sub comm itte es ▁of ▁the ▁Mayor ▁and ▁Cab inet ▁committee . ▁In ▁practice , ▁the ▁mayor ▁remains ▁personally ▁account able , ▁so ▁most ▁may ors ▁have ▁chosen ▁to ▁delegate ▁to ▁a ▁very ▁limited ▁extent — if ▁at ▁all . ▁ ▁Local ▁authorities ▁in ▁Britain ▁remain ▁admin ister ed ▁by ▁a ▁permanent ▁staff ▁of ▁chief ▁officers ▁led ▁by ▁a ▁chief ▁executive ▁or ▁chief ▁operating ▁officer ▁ ▁who ▁are ▁polit ically ▁neutral ▁b ureau cr ats . ▁Their ▁powers ▁remain ▁una ffect ed ▁by ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁elected ▁mayor . ▁Senior ▁officers ▁continue ▁to ▁be ▁appointed ▁by ▁a ▁polit ically ▁representative ▁committee ▁of ▁coun c ill ors , ▁and ▁the ▁mayor ▁may ▁not ▁attempt ▁to ▁influence ▁the ▁decision ▁as ▁to ▁who ▁is ▁appointed ▁( except ▁within ▁the ▁committee ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁committee ). ▁To ▁maintain ▁the ▁staff ' s ▁professional ▁and ▁political ▁independence , ▁the ▁mayor ▁( or ▁any ▁other