The Localism Act 2011 give councils with a population of over 85,000, the option of two models on which to develop a local constitution. These models are:
- executive arrangements
- a committee system
Following a public consultation exercise, we unanimously resolved to adopt a Leader and Cabinet (Executive) model. The Council also agreed a constitution that sets out how we will operate and the procedures that are followed to ensure that decision making is efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of the processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose.
The constitution comprises a number of sections:
- Part 1 describes the Principles on which the constitution is founded;
- Part 2 describes 15 Articles of Governance that set out how the constitution will operate; and
- Parts 3-7 provide further detail as to the operation of the constitution.
The Principles (Part 1) can only be changed by 75% of the members (present at a meeting of the Council) voting to approve such changes, or if there is a statutory requirement. The Articles of Governance (Part 2) and the document comprising Parts 3-7 can be changed by a simple majority of the members (present at a meeting of the Council) voting to approve such changes.
The Council Constitution is available to view in full here.
Responsibility for maintaining the constitution rests with the Borough Solicitor.