The Staffordshire County Council Constitution Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 15 April 2026, was set to discuss the comprehensive governing document that outlines how the council operates. The report pack provided to attendees detailed the various sections of the constitution, covering everything from the fundamental principles of how the council works to specific regulations on financial management and procurement.

Introduction to How the Council Works

The meeting was scheduled to begin with an overview of how Staffordshire County Council operates. This included outlining the rights of council members, officers, and citizens, as well as explaining the decision-making processes. Key aspects to be covered were the principles of decision-making, the role of Cabinet decisions, the definition of Key Decisions, and the function of scrutiny.

The County Council's Constitution: Role and Purpose

A significant portion of the discussion was expected to focus on the constitution itself. This included its role and purpose, how it would be interpreted, and the procedures for its review and potential suspension. The publication of the constitution was also listed as a topic for discussion.

Members of the County Council

The composition, eligibility, election, and terms of office for county councillors were scheduled for review. The report pack detailed the roles, functions, rights, and responsibilities of all councillors, including the Members' Code of Conduct and guidance on member-officer relations. The Members' Allowances Scheme and a Parental Leave Policy for Members were also included for discussion.

Citizens of the County Council

The rights of citizens in their dealings with the council were to be examined, including their rights to complain and the council's petitions scheme.

The Full Council

The purpose and functions of the Full Council were to be discussed, including Local Choice Functions. This section also covered council meetings, the process of chairing meetings, and the procedure rules for the budget and policy framework.

The Cabinet

The executive arrangements for the council were to be detailed, including the appointment and terms of office for the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Members. The role of the Cabinet, Cabinet Decisions, and Cabinet Member Decisions were to be explained, along with the procedure at Cabinet meetings, including conflict of interest protocols. Consultation processes, Cabinet Member responsibilities, general delegations, and the terms of reference for Boards and Cabinet Sub-Committees were also on the agenda. The Shadow Cabinet's role was also to be outlined.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The general role and function of Overview and Scrutiny Committees were scheduled for discussion, including their terms of reference, membership, co-option, and meeting procedures. The report pack also covered the work programme and budget for these committees, as well as how Cabinet Members and officers are held accountable. The role of Policy Advisory Groups and the process for policy review and scrutiny reports were also to be addressed, including members' rights to documents and the call-in procedure.

Other Committees

The meeting was also set to cover the terms of reference for other committees, including the Planning Committee, Audit and Standards Committee, Pensions Committee, and Charities and Trusts Committee.

Joint Arrangements

The general principles of joint arrangements and the terms of reference for existing arrangements were scheduled for discussion.

Officers

The management structure of the council's officers was to be reviewed, including statutory officers, conduct, employment, the exercise of delegated powers, and finance, legal, and contract matters. The scheme of delegation, the local code of conduct for officers, the whistleblowing policy, and the anti-fraud, bribery, and theft policy were also on the agenda.

Procedural Standing Orders

The rules governing how meetings work were to be discussed.

Access to Information Procedure Rules

This section covered access to information, agendas, reports, and minutes, as well as attendance at meetings, the exclusion of the public, confidential information, and the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

Financial Regulations

The financial regulations of the council were to be reviewed, covering financial planning, budgeting, reporting, audit, control, irregularities, spending, income, treasury management, assets, insurance, managing risk, and other funds.

Procurement Regulations

The regulations governing the council's procurement processes were also scheduled for discussion, including procurement processes, the contracts register, the procurement toolkit, public procurement regulations, and exemptions and exceptions.

The report pack also included appendices detailing the Members' Allowances Scheme, Parental Leave Policy for Members, Guidance on Member/Officer Relations, the Seven Principles of Public Life, Registering and Declaring Interests, the Property Sub-Committee, County Farm Tenancies Panel, the Shadow Cabinet, and various schemes of delegation to officers.