Council's Constitution
We have agreed a new constitution which sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.
The constitution is divided into 15 articles which set out the basic rules governing the Council's business. More detailed procedures and codes of practice are provided in separate rules and protocols at the end of the document.
Part 1. Summary and explanation
Part 2. Articles of the constitution
- Article 1 The Constitution (62KB, pdf)
- Article 2 Members Of The Council (106KB, pdf)
- Article 3 Citizens and the Council (98KB, pdf)
- Article 4 The Full Council (79KB, pdf)
- Article 5 Chairing the Council (79KB, pdf)
- Article 6 Scrutiny Committees (158KB, pdf)
- Article 7 The Cabinet (95KB, pdf)
- Article 8 Regulatory Committees (51KB, pdf)
- Article 9 The Standards Committee (73KB, pdf)
- Article 10 Joint Arrangements (95KB, pdf)
- Article 11 Officers (116KB, pdf)
- Article 12 Decision Making (98KB, pdf)
- Article 13 Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters (87KB, pdf)
- Article 14 Review and Revision of the Constitution (44KB, pdf)
- Article 15 Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution (85KB, pdf)
Schedule 1
Part 3. Functions/delegation
Part 4. Rules of procedure
- 4.1 Council Procedure Rules (274KB, pdf
- 4.2 Access to Information Procedure Rules (153KB, pdf
- 4.3 Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (142KB, pdf
- 4.4 Executive Procedure Rules (147KB, pdf
- 4.5 Scrutiny Procedure Rules (154KB, pdf
- 4.6 Financial Procedure Rules (421KB, pdf
- 4.7 Contract Procedures Rules (424KB, pdf
- 4.8 Officer Employment Procedure Rules (92KB, pdf
Part 5. Codes and Protocols
- 5.1 Code of Conduct for Members and Co-opted Members (181KB, pdf)
- 5.2 Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers in Planning Matters (244KB, pdf)
- 5.3 Protocol re Representations to the County Council on Planning Applications (75KB, pdf)
- 5.4 Officers’ Code of Conduct (135KB, pdf)
- 5.5 Protocol on Member/Officer Relations (149KB, pdf)
- 5.6 Protocol for Communications with Elected Members (142KB, pdf)
- 5.7 Local Crime and Disorder Referrals (113KB, pdf)
- 5.8 Scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership (83KB, pdf)
Part 6.1. Councillors' & co-opted member's scheme of allowances
Part 6.2. Management Structures
- Appendix 1: Political Decision Making Structure (72KB, pdf)
- Appendix 2: Organisational Management Structure (488KB, pdf)
Part 7. Names and addresses of councillors
Part 8. Bilingual composition
Council & Democracy
The Council
Councillors, AMs and MPs
- Your County Councillor
- Public Participation Strategy and Petition Scheme
- Councillor allowances and interests
- Town & Community Councillors
- Members of Welsh Parliament
- Members of Parliament
- Become a Councillor
Council departments
Committees & Meetings
- Agendas and minutes
- Governance & Audit Committee
- Council Diary
- Democratic Services Committee
- Cabinet
- Officer decisions
- Forward Plans
- Planning Committee
- Scrutiny
- Standards Committee
- Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)
Strategies and plans
Council Budget
- Budget Digest
- Statement of accounts
- Dyfed Pension Fund
- Education through regional working (ERW)
- Swansea Bay City Deal
- Simple ways to save the Council money
Consultation & Performance
- Current Consultations
- Performance Management
- Audit Inspections & Reports
- The Well-being of Future Generations Act
- Council's Annual Report 2022-23
Public notices
Brexit guidance
Welsh Language
Net Zero Carbon
Equality & Diversity
Armed Forces Covenant
Elections & Voting
- Local Elections 2022
- Eligibility to vote
- How do I vote?
- Changes to Postal and Proxy Voting
- Register to vote
- Update your details on the Electoral Register
- Annual update of the voters roll
- How to opt-out of the open register
- Viewing the Electoral Register
- By-elections
- My nearest - Election information
- Senedd Cymru Elections 2021
- Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2021
- Parliamentary General Election 2019
- Help for Disabled Voters
- Review of Parliamentary Boundaries
- Elections Act 2022 and Voter ID
- Community Review 2023
- Polling Districts and Polling Places Review
Data Protection
More from Council & Democracy