The Constitution Committee of Gloucestershire Council met on Monday 27 April 2026 to discuss arrangements for motions, the appointment of a member to the Independent Remuneration Panel, and an update to the Whistleblowing Policy. The committee agreed to continue with the current motion arrangements, delegate authority for appointing a new member to the Independent Remuneration Panel to a selection panel, and noted an amendment to the Whistleblowing Policy.

Review of Motion Arrangements

The committee voted to continue with the current arrangements for determining the order of motions debated at council meetings. This system, agreed in June 2025, involves motions rotating between political groups, with each group getting a turn to have the first motion on the agenda. This rotation ensures that over time, each group has an equal opportunity to bring forward their proposals.

The review was requested after six months of the new system being in place. Data from September 2025, November 2025, and March 2026 showed the order in which motions were debated and the number of motions submitted by each group.

However, some concerns were raised. One member felt that the system was not proportionate or fair, as groups with more councillors did not necessarily have the opportunity to submit more motions than smaller groups. This member also suggested that the administration, which has other avenues to influence council work, should not be putting forward motions. Another member argued for a full rotation cycle to be completed before considering changes, while acknowledging the potential for future discussions on proportionality.

Despite these concerns, the committee voted by 5 to 2 to continue with the current arrangements. The decision was made to allow for a full rotation of groups having the opportunity for their motion to be first on the list, with a further review planned for October 2026. The committee also discussed the strict two-hour time limit for debates, with members expressing no appetite to change this standing order, although one suggestion was made to allow for re-ordering of motions if all parties unanimously agreed. The importance of keeping motions concise to allow for amendments and cross-party support was also highlighted.

Independent Remuneration Panel Member Appointment

The committee was asked to approve the process for appointing a new member to the Independent Remuneration Panel¹. This panel is responsible for reviewing members' allowances and making recommendations on councillor remuneration. In line with constitutional requirements, a selection panel will be formed to consider the three applications received. This selection panel will comprise one member from the Liberal Democrat, Reform, and Green groups on the committee, along with the Head of Democratic Services in an advisory capacity. The Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel will also have an advisory role. The committee resolved to delegate authority to this selection panel to make the appointment of the new member.

Update to Whistleblowing Policy

The committee noted a report detailing an amendment to the Council's Whistleblowing Policy. This update, made by the Monitoring Officer, Rob Ayliffe, includes a reference to sexual harassment. This change aligns the policy with the Employment Rights Act 2025², which came into effect on 6 April 2026, and recognises disclosures related to sexual harassment as protected disclosures, offering whistleblowers legal protection against retaliation. The amendment ensures that the policy explicitly reflects this legislative change, providing explicit assurance to individuals raising concerns about sexual harassment.