Constitution

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

Part 1 Summary and explanation (pdf, 38k) (opens new window)

Articles of the constitution

Part 2 Articles of the constitution (pdf, 229k) (opens new window)

Responsibility for functions

Part 3 Responsibility for functions (pdf, 476KB) (opens new window)

• what local choice functions are and responsibility for
• what executive functions are and responsibility for
• the Mayor's delegations (pdf, 342KB) (opens new window)
• terms of reference for committees (pdf, 164KB) (opens new window)
• membership of committees (pdf, 26k) (opens new window)
• Statutory and Proper Officers, part A (pdf, 57KB) (opens new window)
• Statutory and Proper Officers, part B (pdf, 91KB) (opens new window)

Council procedure rules

Part 4 Council procedure rules (pdf, 1.3MB) (opens new window) . These govern the way the council operates, including:

• Part 4.1(a) Council procedure rules (pdf, 111KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(b) Access to information procedure rules (pdf, 69KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(b.1) Categories of Exempt Information (pdf, 20KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(c) Policy and budget framework procedure rules (pdf, 65KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(d) Executive procedure rules (pdf, 52KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(e) Overview and scrutiny procedure rules (pdf, 96KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(f) Officer employment procedure rules (pdf, 41KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(g) Committee procedure rules (pdf, 93KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(h) Licensing procedure rules (pdf, 93KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(i) Financial Regulations (pdf, 570KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(j) Procurement Rules (pdf, 155KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(k) Member Forum procedure rules (pdf, 19KB) (opens new window)
• Part 4.1(l) BCC Petitions Scheme (pdf, 125KB) (opens new window)

Codes and protocols

Part 5 Codes and protocols. These are the codes of conduct for councillors, council employees and members' relations:

• Part 5 (A) Member Code of Conduct (pdf, 160KB) (opens new window)
• Part 5 (B) Code of conduct for employees (pdf, 416KB) (opens new window)
• Part 5 (C & C1) Member-Officer Protocol (pdf, 301KB) (opens new window)
• Part 5 (D) Code of conduct for members and officers: planning matters (pdf, 89KB) (opens new window)
• Part 5 (E) Role of elected members in relation to Licensing Committee hearings under the Licensing Act 2003 (pdf, 55KB) (opens new window)

Members’ allowances scheme 2011 to 16

Part 6 Members' allowances scheme 2011 to 16 (pdf, 187k) (opens new window)

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:

• Officer Scheme of Delegation: Adults, Children and Education (pdf, 165KB) (opens new window)  
• Officer Scheme of Delegation: Communities (pdf, 144KB) (opens new window)  
• Officer Scheme of Delegation: Growth and Regeneration (pdf, 135KB) (opens new window)  
• Officer Scheme of Delegation: Resources (pdf, 96KB) (opens new window)
• Officer Scheme of Delegation: Finance (pdf, 69KB) (opens new window)
• Officer Scheme of Delegation: HR (pdf, 53KB) (opens new window)