The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council's Constitution was scheduled for discussion at a meeting on Friday 17 April 2026. The meeting's agenda focused on the comprehensive document that outlines the council's operational framework, decision-making processes, and procedural rules.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Constitution

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Constitution. This extensive document, divided into several parts, serves as the foundational rulebook for the council's operations.

• Part 1: Introduction was set to provide an overview of how the council operates, detailing the key components of the Constitution and the rights afforded to members of the public.
• Part 2: Articles of the Constitution was scheduled to outline the various bodies within the council and describe their respective roles and responsibilities. Article 3, in particular, was noted for detailing opportunities for citizen participation in decision-making.
• Part 3: Responsibility for Functions was intended to set out the allocation of the council's functions and identify which decision-making body or individual holds responsibility for specific decisions. This includes the Terms of Reference for various committees and the Scheme of Delegations.
• Part 4: Rules of Procedure was to cover the detailed procedural rules governing decision-making, including meeting conduct, access to information, the call-in procedure, and rules relating to contracts and financial responsibilities. Specific sub-sections included Meeting Procedure Rules (4A), Access to Information Rules (4B), Contract Regulations (4D), and Financial Regulations (4E).
• Part 5: Codes and Protocols was to outline the codes and protocols governing the conduct of both Members and Officers. This includes the Member Code of Conduct (5A), Employee Code of Conduct (5B), and protocols for Member/Officer relations (5C) and Planning (5D).
• Part 6: Members Allowances Scheme was to detail the allowances paid to the Mayor, councillors, and co-opted members to cover expenses incurred in carrying out their council duties.
• Part 7: Glossary of Terms was to provide explanations for key terms used throughout the Constitution.

The report pack also included version control documents detailing revisions made to the Constitution over time, with the most recent revision noted as 17 April 2026, made by the Monitoring Officer. These revisions covered various parts of the Constitution, including responsibility for functions, procedural rules, codes of conduct, and the members' allowances scheme.