"Colin Rosenstiel" wrote
John Rowland wrote:

I notice that part of Gillett St N16 has been renamed to Bailey
Place N16... unfortunately, there is already a Batley Place N16, so
there will be numerous letters sent to the wrong address over the
next 50 years.

Some minor official in the Borough Council. The local one in Cambridge
sometimes drives me to distraction with his perversity.

In principle, every decision of a Council (unless the relevant legislation
specifies otherwise) has to be taken by "the Council". For practical
reasons, almost all Councils have a Delegation Scheme, formally delegating
responsibilities to Committees, Chief Officers, and ultimately perhaps to
minor officials. If a minor official is driving an elected member to
distraction with his perversity and the member is unable to stop this
happening, then there is something wrong with the Council's Delegation
Scheme. I am surprised that the members of any Council have allowed street
naming to be delegated as far down the organisation as a minor official.
Some things, of course cannot be delegated and have by law to be determined
by "the Council" e.g. setting the Council Tax.

[I write as a former Head of Service at a District Council.]