The Constitution of Bexley Council was scheduled for discussion at a meeting on Friday 24 April 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was the review and potential adoption of the Council's Constitution, which outlines the operational framework, decision-making processes, and procedural rules governing the Council's activities. The report pack provided attendees with a comprehensive document detailing the various parts of the Constitution, including its introduction, responsibility for functions, and detailed procedure rules.

London Borough of Bexley Constitution

The meeting's agenda centred on the London Borough of Bexley's Constitution, a document approved by the Council on 15 April 2026. The Constitution is divided into three main parts:

• Part 1 - Introduction: This section outlines the purpose of the Constitution, its working conventions, and procedures for publication, review, and amendment. It also covers finance, contracts, legal matters, and the roles and responsibilities of Councillors, including their conduct, allowances, and the role of the Mayor. The rights and responsibilities of citizens, including community involvement, petitions, deputations, and public questions, are also detailed.
• Part 2 - Responsibility for Functions: This part delineates the division of responsibilities between Executive and Non-Executive functions, outlining how decisions are made within the Council. It details the structure and roles of the Executive, including the Leader and Cabinet, as well as the functions of Overview and Scrutiny Committees. It also covers joint arrangements and the roles of officers, including Chief Officers and Statutory Officers.
• Part 3 - Procedure Rules: This section contains the detailed procedural rules (standing orders) for various Council meetings, including those of the Full Council, Committees, the Planning Committee, and the Licensing Sub-Committee. It also includes rules for access to information, employment procedures, contract procedures, and financial regulations.

The report pack provided extensive detail on each of these sections, including the composition and eligibility of Councillors, the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor, and the Members' Code of Conduct, which is built upon the Seven Principles of Public Life¹. It also outlined the procedures for registering and disclosing interests, and the sanctions that may be applied for breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The document also detailed the Members' Allowances Scheme, outlining the basic and special responsibility allowances payable to Councillors, as well as travel and subsistence allowances, and childcare and dependent's carer allowances.

Furthermore, the report pack elaborated on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, including their rights to participate in decision-making, access information, and make complaints. It also detailed the procedures for submitting petitions, making deputations, and asking public questions at Council meetings.

The responsibilities for various functions were clearly defined, distinguishing between Executive and Non-Executive functions and outlining the decision-making processes for each. The roles and responsibilities of the Executive Leader, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Members were detailed, along with the structure of Cabinet Portfolios. The report pack also included information on Key Decisions, outlining the criteria for identifying them and the procedures for their consideration.

The functions and composition of various Committees, including Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the General Purposes and Audit Committee, the Licensing Committee, and the Planning Committee, were described. The report pack also detailed the roles and responsibilities of officers, including Statutory Officers such as the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Corporate Services (S.151 Officer), and the Monitoring Officer. The Officers' Scheme of Delegation was also provided, outlining the powers and responsibilities delegated to officers.

Finally, the report pack contained detailed Procedure Rules for Council meetings, Committee meetings, Planning Committee meetings, Employment procedures, Access to Information, Contract procedures, and Financial Regulations. These rules govern the conduct of meetings, the process for making decisions, and the financial management of the Council.