The Constitution Committee of Leicestershire County Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, to discuss proposed updates to the council's constitution. Key items on the agenda included a review of the protocol for appointing Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen, and a broader revision of the council's constitution.

Protocol on the Appointment of Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen

A draft protocol for the appointment of Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen was scheduled for consideration. This honour is intended to recognise past members of the council who have rendered eminent services to the council and the local community. The title is a civic honour only, carrying no governance rights, voting rights, or financial entitlements. The protocol, which updates a previous version from 2005, outlines eligibility criteria, including a minimum of 12 years of service or exceptional impact over a shorter period, and holding significant leadership roles. It also details the nomination process, which would be initiated by Group Leaders, and the decision-making process, requiring a two-thirds majority at a specially convened meeting of the Full Council. The protocol also addresses the rights, privileges, and limitations associated with the title, including invitations to civic events and attendance at Full Council meetings as an observer. Provisions for withdrawal of the honour and arrangements in the event of local government reorganisation were also included. The report recommended that the County Council approve this protocol.

Revision of the Constitution

The committee was also scheduled to consider revisions to the council's constitution as part of a mid-year review. This review was conducted to address additional changes required to ensure the constitution's aims and principles are fully implemented. The report indicated that changes had been made to several areas of the constitution, including Articles (Part 2), Responsibility for Functions (Part 3), Meeting Procedure Rules (Part 4A), Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Part 4E), the Protocol on Member/Officer Relations (Part 5C), and the Members' Allowances Scheme (Part 6). The recommendation was for the County Council to approve these proposed changes.

The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items such as the minutes of the previous meeting, question time, and declarations of interest. A separate item concerning Charitable Trusts Update and Grant Application was scheduled, with the public likely to be excluded from this discussion.