Our constitution sets out how we operate, how we make decisions and the procedures we follow to ensure efficiency and transparency.
The law requires the council to follow some of the protocols in the constitution, while other protocols have been put in place by the council.
The articles of the constitution set out the basic rules governing the council's business. Detailed procedures and codes of practice can be found in the constitution's standing orders and protocols.
| Part One |
|---|
| 1A - Summary and explanation |
| 1B - Articles of the constitution (the principles under which the constitution operates) |
| Part Two |
|---|
| 2A - Terms of reference (the powers of each of the bodies referred to in the constitution) |
| 2B - Scheme of delegation to officers (the powers which the council has given to its officers) |
| Part Three |
|---|
| 3A - Council standing orders (the rules by which the council and committees operate) |
| 3B - Cabinet standing orders (the rules by which the cabinet operates) |
| 3C - Overview and scrutiny standing orders (the rules by which overview and scrutiny operates) |
| 3D - Access to information standing orders (the arrangements for making information about council business available) |
| 3E - Budget and policy framework standing orders (the financial and policy framework within which the council operates) |
| 3F - Contracts standing orders (the rules governing the management of contracts) |
| 3G - Financial standing orders (the council's financial rules) |
| 3H - Officer employment standing orders (the rules governing the employment of officers) |
| Part Four |
|---|
| 4A - Code of conduct for councillors |
| 4B - Code of conduct for councillors and officers dealing with planning matters |
| 4C - Code of conduct for employees |
| 4D - Protocol on councillor/officer relations |
| 4E - Confidential reporting code (the council's whistleblowing code) |
| 4F - Monitoring Officer protocol (protocol defining the power and duties of the Monitoring Officer) |
| 4G - Complaint process |
| 4H - Councillor call for action (protocol for members to refer matters to overview and scrutiny) |
| 4I - Petition scheme (protocol for dealing with petitions) |
| Part Five |
|---|
| 5A - Members' allowance scheme |
| Part Six |
|---|
| 6A - Management structure |