Council Constitution
The Council's Constitution 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. For more information about the Constitution please contact us.
Part 1 - Summary and Explanation
- Summary and Explanation (PDF, 53 Kb)
Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution
- Article 1 - The Constitution (PDF, 51 Kb)
- Article 2 - Members Of The Council (PDF, 45 Kb)
- Article 3 - Citizens And The Council (PDF, 37 Kb)
- Article 4 - The Full Council (PDF, 161 Kb)
- Article 5 - The Mayor (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Article 6 - Overview And Scrutiny Committees (PDF, 49 Kb)
- Article 7 - The Cabinet (PDF, 110 Kb)
- Article 8 - Regulatory Committees (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Article 9 - The Standards Committee (PDF, 99 Kb)
- Article 10 - Area Committees (PDF, 44 Kb)
- Article 11 - Joint Arrangements (PDF, 45 Kb)
- Article 12 - Officers (PDF, 64 Kb)
- Article 13 - Decision Making (PDF, 67 Kb)
- Article 14 - Finance, Contracts And Legal Matters (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Article 15 - Review And Revision Of The Constitution (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Article 16 - Suspension, Interpretation And Publication Of The Constitution (PDF, 840 Kb)
- Schedule 1 - Description Of Executive Arrangements (PDF, 42 Kb)
Part 3 - Responsibility for Functions
- Responsibility For Functions (PDF, 163 Kb)
- Delegations to Officers (PDF, 200 Kb)
Part 4 - Rules of Procedure
- Council Procedure Rules (PDF, 205 Kb)
- Access To Information Procedure Rules (PDF, 224 Kb)
- Budget And Policy Framework Procedure Rules (PDF, 111 Kb)
- Executive Procedure Rules (PDF, 45 Kb)
- Overview And Scrutiny Procedure Rules (PDF, 153 Kb)
- Financial Regulations (PDF, 81 Kb)
- Officer Employment Procedure Rules (PDF, 71 Kb)
- Procedure for Considering Housing Appeals (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Procedure for Considering Objections to Tree Preservation Orders (PDF, 43 Kb)
- Procedure for Licensing Sub-Committee Hearings (PDF, 53 Kb)
- Procedure for Local Determination Hearings (PDF, 87 Kb)
- Procedure For Other Standards Panel Hearings (PDF, 154 Kb)
Part 5 - Codes and Protocols
- Members' Code Of Conduct (PDF, 83 Kb)
- Officers' Code Of Conduct (PDF, 110 Kb)
- Protocol On Member Officer Relations (PDF, 72 Kb)
- Monitoring Officer Protocol (PDF, 39 Kb)
- Members' Planning Code Of Good Practice (PDF, 117 Kb)
- Protocol on Presentations to Councillors (PDF, 46 Kb)
Part 6 - Members' Allowances Scheme
- Members' Allowances Scheme (PDF, 93 Kb)
Part 7 - Management Structure
- Management Structure (PDF, 319 Kb)
Last updated May 2008 following changes to the Members' Allowances Scheme, Responsibility for Functions and Delegations to Officers agreed by Cabinet and Council and changes relating to the new system for the local assessment of complaints that councillors have failed to comply with the Code of Conduct.
Local Code of Corporate Governance
At its meeting on 6th December 2004, the Borough Council adopted a Local Code of Corporate Governance. The Code sets out the Council's commitment to corporate governance and the arrangements which are being made to ensure its application and implementation.
Compliance with the Code is monitored annually by the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee.
- Code of Corporate Governance (PDF, 44 Kb)