The Constitution of North Northamptonshire Council met on Monday 27 April 2026 to discuss the proposed adoption of the council's constitution. The constitution is a comprehensive document outlining the council's operational framework, decision-making processes, and public participation rights.

North Northamptonshire Constitution

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the entirety of the North Northamptonshire Council's Constitution, a document that serves as the council's rulebook. This constitution details how the council operates, how decisions are made, and the procedures that will be followed. It was established following the creation of North Northamptonshire Council on 1 April 2021, which brought together services previously delivered by Corby Borough Council, the Borough Council of Wellingborough, East Northamptonshire District Council, and Kettering Borough Council, along with the powers of Northamptonshire County Council within its boundary. The constitution is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2000 and aims to ensure accountability, transparency, and that decisions are made in the public interest. Changes to the constitution can only be made by the full council in a public session, unless they are minor administrative changes.

The constitution is divided into nine parts:

• Part One: Summary and Explanation - Outlines what the council is and how it works.
• Part Two: Public Participation and Rights - Details how the public can get involved in decision-making and their rights.
• Part Three: Council - Covers the Council's Rules of Procedure, the functions of the full council, and rules on the Budget and Policy Framework.
• Part Four: Committees - Sets out the Terms of Reference for non-executive committees, establishing their powers, remit, and meeting procedures.
• Part Five: Executive - Details the rules relating to the Executive, the council's main decision-making body.
• Part Six: Scrutiny - Outlines the rules for Scrutiny Committees, which review and challenge the work of the Executive.
• Part Seven: Joint Arrangements - Describes arrangements for services jointly delivered with West Northamptonshire Council.
• Part Eight: Councillors - Covers matters relating to standards and allowances for elected members.
• Part Nine: Officers - Sets out the financial, contractual, and employment rules for officers, and how they make decisions.

The report pack also included detailed sections on:

• Decision Making - Explaining the principles of decision-making, types of decisions, and who makes them, including Key Decisions which are defined as executive decisions likely to result in significant expenditure or savings, or have a significant effect on communities.
• Public Participation and Rights - Detailing how citizens can get involved, including speaking at meetings, submitting petitions, and accessing information.
• Role of Council - Outlining the functions of the full council, including adopting the constitution, approving the budget and policy framework, and appointing committees.
• Meeting Procedure Rules - Setting out the rules for conducting meetings of the council and its committees.
• Budget and Policy Framework and Procedure Rules - Describing how the budget and policy framework are developed and the process for conflict resolution.
• Governance Structure - Providing a diagram of the council's governance model, including various committees such as Planning, Audit and Governance, and Health and Wellbeing Board.
• Committees - Detailing the specific terms of reference for the Planning Committee, Democracy and Standards Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Health and Wellbeing Board, Employment Committee, and Licensing and Appeals Committee.
• Executive Procedure Rules - Outlining the terms of reference, membership, and meeting procedures for the Executive.
• Access to Information Procedure Rules - Detailing the public's rights to access information and how meetings are conducted in relation to confidential and exempt information.
• Joint Arrangements - Describing the procedures for joint committees and partnerships, including those with West Northamptonshire Council and the Northamptonshire Children's Trust.
• Scrutiny Procedure Rules - Explaining the role and terms of reference for Scrutiny Committees and the Scrutiny Management Board.
• Roles of Councillors and Office Holders - Defining the responsibilities and key tasks for all councillors, the Leader of the Council, Executive members, and non-Executive councillors such as the Chair of the Council and Scrutiny Chairs.
• Member Code of Conduct - Setting out the expected standards of conduct for councillors, including principles of respect, integrity, and the management of interests.
• Member Complaints Procedure - Detailing the process for making and handling complaints about alleged breaches of the Member Code of Conduct.
• Member Officer Protocol - Providing guidance on effective working relationships between councillors and officers.
• Planning Protocol and Planning Committee Site Visit Protocol - Outlining the rules and procedures for dealing with planning matters to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency.
• Scheme of Members' Allowances - Detailing the allowances and expenses payable to councillors.
• Outside Bodies Procedure Rules - Setting out the rules for appointing members to external organisations.
• Management Structure, Officer Scheme of Delegation, List of Proper Officers, Officer Code of Conduct, and Officer Employment Procedure Rules - Detailing the council's management structure, the delegation of powers to officers, the roles of proper officers, the code of conduct for officers, and the procedures for officer employment.
• Contract Procedure Rules and Financial Procedure Rules - Outlining the rules and procedures for procurement, contract management, and the overall financial management of the council.

The report pack provided a comprehensive overview of the council's governance framework, intended to guide its operations and decision-making processes.