The Staffordshire County Council Constitution committee was scheduled to review and discuss various aspects of the council's governing documents. Key areas of focus included the roles and responsibilities of councillors and officers, the functioning of council committees, and the procedures for accessing information and financial management.

The County Council's Constitution - Role and Purpose

The meeting agenda indicated a review of the fundamental role and purpose of the County Council's Constitution. This section was scheduled to cover how the constitution is interpreted, the process for its review, and the circumstances under which it might be suspended. The publication of the constitution was also listed for discussion.

Members of the County Council

A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to the composition, eligibility, election, and terms of office for councillors. The scheduled discussions were to detail the roles, functions, rights, and responsibilities of all councillors. This included a review of the Members' Code of Conduct, guidance on Member/Officer relations, the Members' Allowances Scheme, and a Parental Leave Policy for Members.

The Cabinet

The agenda outlined discussions concerning the Cabinet's executive arrangements. This was set to include the appointment of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Members. The roles of the Cabinet and Cabinet Members in decision-making, along with the procedures for Cabinet meetings, were also scheduled for consideration. Furthermore, the agenda indicated a review of consultation processes, Cabinet Member responsibilities, and the terms of reference for various Cabinet sub-committees, including the Property Sub-Committee and the County Farm Tenancies Panel. The role of the Shadow Cabinet was also to be addressed.

Officers

The meeting was scheduled to consider the council's officers, including the management structure and the roles of statutory officers. Discussions were expected to cover conduct, employment, the exercise of delegated powers, and financial, legal, and contract matters. The agenda also listed the Scheme of Delegation to Officers, the Local Code of Conduct for Officers, the Whistleblowing Policy, and the Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Theft Policy for review.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The role and function of Overview and Scrutiny Committees were scheduled for discussion, including their terms of reference, membership, and meetings. The agenda indicated that the work programme and budget for these committees would be considered, alongside arrangements for Cabinet Member accountability and the attendance of others at meetings. Policy Advisory Groups, policy review processes, the production of scrutiny reports, and members' rights to access documents were also listed. The mechanism of call-in was also to be discussed.

The Full Council

The purpose and functions of the Full Council were scheduled for review, including Local Choice Functions . Discussions were also to cover council meetings, including the chairing of meetings, and the procedure rules for the Budget and Policy Framework.

Financial Regulations and Procurement Regulations

The agenda indicated that the meeting would consider the council's Financial Regulations, covering financial planning, budgeting, reporting, audit, control, spending, income, treasury management, assets, insurance, and risk management. Similarly, Procurement Regulations were scheduled for discussion, including procurement processes, the contracts register, the procurement toolkit, public procurement regulations, and exemptions.

Access to Information Procedure Rules

The meeting was scheduled to review the Access to Information Procedure Rules, which govern how information, agendas, reports, and minutes are made available. This included rules on attendance at meetings, the exclusion of the public, and the handling of confidential information, as well as the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

Other Committees

The agenda also listed several other committees for consideration, including the Planning Committee, Audit and Standards Committee, Pensions Committee, and Charities and Trusts Committee.

Joint Arrangements

Discussions were scheduled to cover the general principles of Joint Arrangements and the terms of reference for existing joint arrangements.

Introduction to How the Council Works

The meeting was set to begin with an introduction to how the council operates, covering the rights of County Council members, officers, and citizens. It was also scheduled to outline how the County Council functions and makes decisions, including the principles of decision-making, Cabinet Decisions, and definitions of Key Decisions and Scrutiny.