The Democracy and Standards Committee of West Northamptonshire Council met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to discuss proposed updates to the Council's Constitution, including significant changes to planning application delegation and the Local Government Pension Scheme. The committee also received an update on member code of conduct complaints and reviewed the ongoing member development programme.

Updates to the West Northamptonshire Council Constitution

A substantial portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to considering updates to the Council's Constitution. These proposed changes are largely driven by new national legislation and guidance.

A key area of focus was the implementation of the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which came into effect on 31 October 2026. These regulations introduce a national scheme for the delegation of planning functions, meaning that certain planning applications must now be determined by officers, with a more restricted scope for planning committees. The report pack indicated that the Council's Constitution, including the Terms of Reference for planning committees and the Planning Protocol, needed to be amended to align with these new regulations. This includes the removal of the call-in process, where ward councillors could request applications be brought before a committee, and the introduction of an Application Referral Process involving a nominated officer and a nominated member. The report pack also discussed the legal advice received regarding a proposed Informal Member Review process, which counsel advised would be inconsistent with the new regulations. Alternative arrangements for ward members to provide input were suggested.

Updates to the Constitution concerning the Council's role as the administering authority for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) were also scheduled for discussion. These changes are in response to government reforms, including the Fit for the Future reforms and new regulations regarding LGPS governance, pooling, and investment. The proposed amendments aim to clarify governance structures, committee responsibilities, and officer roles, including the designation of an LGPS Senior Officer.

Minor updates to the Constitution were also to be considered. The report pack highlighted that these changes are necessary to ensure legal compliance and to support efficient decision-making.

Code of Conduct Complaints Update

The committee was scheduled to receive statistics on Member Code of Conduct complaints dealt with under the Member Complaints Procedure. The report aimed to provide the committee with an overview of complaints received and their outcomes, enabling them to fulfil their duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct. The report indicated that all outstanding complaints from the previous meeting on 12 March 2026 had been closed, with details provided in Appendix A of the report pack. The committee was asked to note the statistics and consider if any patterns or common themes in complaints might necessitate further training for members.

Member Development Programme

An update on the Member Development Programme was scheduled, focusing on specific training needs for the Democracy and Standards Committee. The report outlined training and briefings that had already taken place, including sessions on the Greyfriars Redevelopment, flood risk, waste services, social housing regulatory standards, and data protection. Planned future sessions included training on strategic planning, building control, and highways maintenance. The committee was invited to consider its own specific training needs, potentially including further guidance on the Code of Conduct and standards regime, refresher training, and procedures for the Hearings Panel.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review and note the Committee Work Programme for 2026/2027. The report pack indicated that the September meeting would include items such as planning guidance changes, member development updates, and changes to the standards regime.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 3 June 2026. The agenda also included a note regarding the potential exclusion of the press and public for certain items of business, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972.