Purpose

Consideration of proposed amendments to the Council’s Constitution, arising out of the National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Functions, recommended by the Executive.

The amendments are to be considered by the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services for approval under his delegated power in Article 15.02(c)(ii) of the Constitution, to amend the Constitution to ensure that it and the Council’s procedures meet all legal requirements.

The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which enact the National Scheme, come into force on 31 October 2026, before the next meeting of full Council. The Constitution therefore needs to be amended by 31 October 2026, to meet the statutory timescale and reflect the new legal requirements, and so the required changes will need to be considered and agreed by the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services under his delegated power.

Any amendments agreed by the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services will be reported back to the next meeting of full Council in November 2026.

The decision required is, subject to any comments Members may have, to approve the proposed amendments to the Constitution under the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services’ delegated power in Article 15.02(c)(ii) of the Constitution.

Decision

The Constitution needs to be amended to reflect the changes being brought in by the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 on 31 October 2026.

Following consideration by the Executive, the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic Services pursuant to his delegation under Article 15.02(c) of the Constitution approves and implements amendments to the Constitution which are required as a result of the introduction of the National Scheme of Delegation for Planning and which are detailed in the report to Executive dated 27 October 2026 and set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 and Annex A to that report.