Constitution of the Council

How the Council operates is defined in a document called the Constitution, which is the Council’s ‘rule book’.  All local authorities are required to have a Constitution in place as defined in section 37 of the Local Government Act 2000.

The Constitution is split into six parts which cover the key Council functions and how it is governed:

  • Part 1 – Summary and Explanation
  • Part 2 – Sections of the Constitution
  • Part 3 – Responsibility for Functions
  • Part 4 – Rules of Procedure
  • Part 5 – Codes and Protocols
  • Part 6 – Members’ Allowances Scheme

Primarily it sets out who has responsibility for carrying out functions as defined in numerous pieces of legislation.  The full Council, Cabinet, and Committees enact most major functions, however on a day-to-day basis; functions are delegated to Officers (normally officers of the Leadership Team).

It also details the terms of reference and procedures rules for full Council, Cabinet and Committees, as well as the Council’s finance and contract procedures, codes and protocols for Officers and Members and the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

The Council’s Monitoring Officer has responsibility for maintaining the Constitution to ensure that is up to date and can be easily accessed by members, officers and the general public.  Annual reviews of the Constitution are undertaken by the Constitution Working Group in conjuction with the Monitoring Officer and any required changes are recommended to full Council for approval.

The Constitution can be accessed below as a single document or split down into each individual section.

Full Constitution (single document)

Full Constitution as of 22 May 2024

Constitution Index

Constitution Index

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation

Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution (Sections 1 to 12)

Part 2 - Section 1 - The Constitution


Part 2 - Section 2 - Members of the Council


Part 2 - Section 3 - Citizens and the Council


Part 2 - Section 4 - The Full Council


Part 2 - Section 4a - Honorary Titles


Part 2 - Section 5 - The Chair of the Council


Part 2 - Section 6 - The Cabinet


Part 2 - Section 7 - The Opposition and Shadow Cabinet


Part 2 - Section 8 - Joint Arrangements


Part 2 - Section 9 - Officers


Part 2 - Section 10 - Decision Making


Part 2 - Section 11 - Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters


Part 2 - Section 12 - Review and Revision of the Constitution

Part 3 - Responsibility for Functions (Sections 13 to 26)

Part 3 - Section 13 - Allocation of Functions


Part 3 - Section 14 - Responsibility for Functions-Cabinet and Leader


Part 3 - Section 15 - Allocation of Portfolio Responsibilities to Cabinet Members


Part 3 - Section 16 - Scrutiny Committees Terms of Reference 


Part 3 - Section 17 - Planning Control Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 18 - Licensing and Public Protection Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 19 - Licensing Sub-Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 20 - Standards Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 21 - Audit & Governance Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 22 - Appeals and Complaints Panel Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 23 - Joint Appointments Committee and Investigatory & Disciplinary Committee Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 24 - Trade Union Consultative Forum Terms of Reference


Part 3 - Section 25 - Substitution Scheme for Committees


Part 3 - Section 26 - Scheme of Delegations

Part 4 - Rules of Procedure (Sections 27 to 33)

Part 4 - Section 27 - Council Procedure Rules


Part 4 - Section 28 - Access to Information Procedure Rules


Part 4 - Section 29 - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules


Part 4 - Section 30 - Cabinet Procedure Rules


Part 4 - Section 31 - Scrutiny and Call-In Procedure Rules


Part 4 - Section 32 - Financial Regulations


Part 4 - Section 33 - Procurement Regulations

Part 5 - Codes and Protocols (Sections 34 to 41)

Part 5 - Section 34 - Code of Conduct for Members


Part 5 - Section 35 - Code of Conduct for Employees (September 2008)


Part 5 - Section 36 - Gifts and Hospitality Protocol for Members


Part 5 - Section 37 - Protocol for Member-Officer Relations


Part 5 - Section 38 - Monitoring Officer Protocol (September 2008)


Part 5 - Section 39 - Local Protocol for Planning Decision Making


Part 5 - Section 40 - Protocol for Recording, Filming and Social Media at Meetings


Part 5 - Section 41 - Protocol for Conferring Honorary Titles

Part 6 - Members' Allowances (Section 42)

Part 6 - Section 42 - Members' Allowances Scheme 2022-2025

 

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