The Westminster City Council Constitution was scheduled for review at the meeting on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The report pack provided to attendees detailed the structure and operation of the Council's Constitution, outlining how decisions are made, the roles of elected members and officers, and the rights of residents.

The Council's Constitution

The core of the meeting's scheduled discussion revolved around the Westminster City Council's Constitution. This document, which sets out how the Council operates, how decisions are made, and the procedures followed to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability, was presented for consideration. The Constitution is divided into chapters covering various aspects of the Council's governance, including:

• How the Council Operates: This section detailed the composition of the Council, the roles and responsibilities of councillors, the executive function led by the Leader and Cabinet, and the function of Policy and Scrutiny Committees. It also outlined the rights of citizens in their dealings with the Council.
• Management of the Constitution: This chapter focused on the purpose and interpretation of the Constitution, including the process for making changes and the limited circumstances under which certain rules could be suspended.
• Roles and Functions of Elected Members: This section described the composition of the Council, the eligibility and terms of office for councillors, and their key roles, rights, and duties.
• Members of the Council: A list of councillors, their respective wards, and their political affiliations was provided.
• Constitutional Rights of Residents: This outlined the rights of citizens, such as the right to vote, contact their local councillor, attend meetings, and access information, as well as their responsibilities.
• Decision Making: This chapter detailed the principles of decision-making, including proportionality, due consultation, respect for human rights, and a presumption in favour of openness. It also distinguished between decisions reserved for the Full Council and key decisions which have significant implications for the local authority's budget or communities.
• Governance, Including Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters: This section covered the Council's commitment to maintaining public confidence through effective governance arrangements, including its Code of Governance, financial management rules, contracts procedure rules, and legal proceedings.
• Officers: This chapter outlined the Council's management structure, detailing the roles and responsibilities of Chief Officers, including the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer, and Chief Financial Officer.

The report pack also included detailed procedural rules for the Full Council, the Leader and Cabinet, Policy and Scrutiny Committees, and various other committees and sub-committees. These rules governed how meetings were conducted, how decisions were made, and the delegation of powers to officers. Specific attention was given to the Contracts Procedure Rules and the Procurement Code, which set out the framework for acquiring works, goods, and services, ensuring compliance with legislation, value for money, and ethical conduct. The Financial Regulations were also detailed, outlining the principles and responsibilities for managing the Council's financial affairs, including budgeting, monitoring, internal control, and external arrangements. Finally, the Officer Employment Rules and Member Allowances Scheme were presented, detailing the procedures for appointing and dismissing officers, and the allowances payable to elected members.