Find out what the constitution is and what it does.
We have a constitution which sets out:
- how the council operates
- how decisions are made
- the procedures which are followed to make sure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable.
Some of these processes are needed by the law, while others have been decided by the council.
The constitution is in nine parts.
Summary and explanation
pdf Part 1 Summary and explanation (61 KB)
Articles of the constitution
pdf Part 2 Articles of the constitution (322 KB)
Responsibility for functions
pdf Part 3 Responsibility for functions (654 KB)
Council procedure rules
These procedure rules govern the way the council operates:
- pdf Part 4.1(a) Council procedure rules (228 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(b) Access to information procedure rules (84 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(c) Policy and budget framework procedure rules (216 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(d) Executive procedure rules (51 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(e) Overview and scrutiny procedure rules (91 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(f) Officer employment procedure rules (38 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(g) Committee procedure rules (84 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(h) Licensing procedure rules (186 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(i) Financial Regulations (150 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(j) Procurement Rules (363 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(k) Member Forum procedure rules (19 KB)
- pdf Part 4.1(l) BCC Petitions Scheme (109 KB)
Part 5 Codes and protocols. These are the codes of conduct for councillors, council employees and members' relations that govern local government activity, this includes bribery and corruption guidance:
- pdf Part 5 (A) Member Code of Conduct (101 KB)
- pdf Part 5 (B) Code of conduct for employees (493 KB)
- document Part 5 (C & C1) Member-Officer Protocol (71 KB)
- pdf Part 5 (D) Code of conduct for members and officers: planning matters (166 KB)
- pdf Part 5 (E) Code of conduct for members: Licensing Committee Hearings (105 KB)
- pdf Part 5 (F) Code of Conduct for members: Public Safety and Protection Committee Hearings (100 KB)
- pdf Part 5 (G) Lord Mayor's Protocol (150 KB)
Members' allowances scheme 2022
- pdf Part 6 Members' allowances scheme 2022 (172 KB)
- pdf International travel policy and procedures for members (343 KB)
- pdf Special Responsibility Allowances 2022/23 (88 KB)
Council's management structure
Part 7 Council's management structure
Members contact details
Part 8 Members contact details. Names and contact details for our councillors
Forward plan
Part 9 Mayor's Forward plan. Key decisions to be taken by the council in the next four months.
Officer Schemes of Delegation
Schemes of Delegation explain who can take which decisions on behalf of the council.
All decision-making power ultimately rests either with the Mayor executive powers, or with Full Council non-executive powers.
In the Constitution the Mayor and Full Council delegate many of their powers to others, including to the Chief Executive, the Strategic Directors, and a few other statutory and proper officers such as the Service Directors for Finance and Legal.
These individuals then delegate many of their powers to other Officers. They do this in the Officer Schemes of Delegation. There's an Officer Scheme of Delegation for each Directorate, and for Finance and HR:
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: Adults and Communities (313 KB)
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: Children and Education (532 KB)
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: Growth and Regeneration (317 KB)
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: Resources (182 KB)
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: Finance (262 KB)
- pdf Officer Scheme of Delegation: HR (46 KB)