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 (12KB, pdf)
- Article 2 Members of the Council (124KB, pdf)
- Article 3 Citizens and the Council (108KB, pdf)
- Article 4 The Full Council (83KB, pdf)
- Article 5 Chairing the Council (101KB, pdf)
- Article 6 Scrutiny Committees (163KB, pdf)
- Article 7 The Executive Board (106KB, pdf)
- Article 8 Regulatory Committees (54KB, pdf)
- Article 9 The Standards Committee (74KB, pdf)
- Article 10 Joint Arrangements (104KB, pdf)
- Article 11 Officers (122KB, pdf)
- Article 12 Decision Making (99KB, pdf)
- Article 13 Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters (98KB, pdf)
- Article 14 Review and Revision of the Constitution (48KB, pdf)
- Article 15 Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution (117KB, pdf)
Schedule 1
Part 3. Functions/delegation
Part 4. Rules of procedure
- Council Procedure Rules (526KB, pdf)
- Access to Information Procedure Rules (163KB, pdf)
- Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (148KB, pdf)
- Executive Procedure Rules (363KB, pdf)
- Scrutiny Procedure Rules (124KB, pdf)
- Financial Procedure Rules (328KB, pdf)
- Contract Procedures Rules (1016KB, pdf)
- Officer Employment Procedure Rules (92KB, pdf)
Part 5. Codes and Protocols
- Code of Conduct for Members and Co-opted Members (229KB, pdf)
- Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers in Planning Matters (263KB, pdf)
- Protocol for Communications with Elected Members (167KB, pdf)
- Scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership (82KB, pdf)
- Local Crime and Disorder Referrals (117KB, pdf)
- Protocol re Representations to the County Council on Planning Applications (83KB, pdf)
- Officers’ Code of Conduct (140KB, pdf)
- Protocol on Member/Officer Relations (154KB, pdf)
Part 6.1. Councillors' & co-opted member's scheme of allowances
Part 6.2. Management Structures
- Appendix 2: Organisational Management Structure (151KB, pdf)
- Appendix 1: Political Management Structure (221KB, pdf)
Part 7. Names and addresses of councillors
Part 8. Bilingual composition
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