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 current version of the Constitution came into effect from 1 September, 2015.  Sections 35-38 are still to be updated and will be reviewed in due course.

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 6 September 2023.pdf (4.23 MB)

Constitution Front Cover and Index

Constitution Front Cover.pdf (26.03 KB)


Constitution Index.pdf (140.91 KB)

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation.pdf (105.33 KB)

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

Part 2 - Section 1 - The Constitution.pdf (13.25 KB)


Part 2 - Section 2 - Members of the Council.pdf (18.05 KB)


Part 2 - Section 3 - Citizens and the Council.pdf (202.86 KB)


Part 2 - Section 4 - The Full Council.pdf (21.05 KB)


Part 2 - Section 4a - Honorary Titles.pdf (15.55 KB)


Part 2 - Section 5 - The Chair of the Council.pdf (84.73 KB)


Part 2 - Section 6 - The Cabinet.pdf (65.61 KB) 


Part 2 - Section 7 - The Opposition and Shadow Cabinet.pdf (17.8 KB)


Part 2 - Section 8 - Joint Arrangements.pdf (18.27 KB)


Part 2 - Section 9 - Officers.pdf (173.56 KB)


Part 2 - Section 10 - Decision Making.pdf (25.13 KB)


Part 2 - Section 11 - Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters.pdf (57.29 KB)


Part 2 - Section 12 - Review and Revision of the Constitution.pdf (67.97 KB)

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

Part 3 - Section 13 - Allocation of Functions.pdf (75.37 KB)


Part 3 - Section 14 - Responsibility for Functions-Cabinet and Leader.pdf (10.93 KB)


Part 3 - Section 15 - Allocation of Portfolio Responsibilities to Cabinet Members.pdf (220.01 KB)


Part 3 - Section 16 - Scrutiny Committees Terms of Reference.pdf (167.1 KB) 


Part 3 - Section 17 - Planning Control Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (61.92 KB)


Part 3 - Section 18 - Licensing and Public Protection Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (67.15 KB)


Part 3 - Section 19 - Licensing Sub-Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (65.25 KB)


Part 3 - Section 20 - Standards Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (62.68 KB)


Part 3 - Section 21 - Audit & Governance Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (73.55 KB)


Part 3 - Section 22 - Appeals and Complaints Panel Terms of Reference.pdf (88.89 KB)


Part 3 - Section 23 - Joint Appointments Committee and Investigatory & Disciplinary Committee Terms of Reference.pdf (134.19 KB)


Part 3 - Section 24 - Trade Union Consultative Forum Terms of Reference.pdf (74.99 KB)


Part 3 - Section 25 - Substitution Schemes for Committees.pdf (58.72 KB)


Part 3 - Section 26 - Scheme of Delegations.pdf (318.11 KB)

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

Part 4 - Section 27 - Council Procedure Rules.pdf (228 KB)


Part 4 - Section 28 - Access to Information Procedure Rules.pdf (111.98 KB)


Part 4 - Section 29 - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.pdf (73.33 KB)


Part 4 - Section 30 - Cabinet Procedure Rules.pdf (104.21 KB)


Part 4 - Section 31 - Scrutiny and Call-In Procedure Rules.pdf (85.03 KB)


Part 4 - Section 32 - Financial Regulations.pdf (206.58 KB)


Part 4 - Section 33 - Procurement Regulations.pdf (281. 91KB)

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

Part 5 - Section 34 - Code of Conduct for Members.pdf (213.84 KB)


Part 5 - Section 35 - Code of Conduct for Employees (September 2008).pdf (279.12 KB)


Part 5 - Section 36 - Gifts and Hospitality Protocol for Members (February 2009).pdf (107.1 KB)


Part 5 - Section 37 - Protocol for Member-Officer Relations (September 2008).pdf (205.18 KB)


Part 5 - Section 38 - Monitoring Officer Protocol (September 2008).pdf (116.89 KB)


Part 5 - Section 39 - Local Protocol for Planning Decision Making.pdf (288.35 KB)


Part 5 - Section 40 - Protocol for Recording, Filming and Social Media at Meetings.pdf (63.68 KB)


Part 5 - Section 41 - Protocol for Conferring Honorary Titles.pdf (64.68 KB)

Part 6 - Members' Allowances (Section 42)

Part 6 - Section 42 - Members' Allowances Scheme.pdf (158.87 KB)

 

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