The Staffordshire County Council Constitution Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 15 April 2026, was set to discuss the comprehensive governing document of the council. The report pack provided to attendees detailed the various sections of the constitution, outlining how the council operates, how decisions are made, and the roles and responsibilities of councillors, officers, and citizens.

The County Council's Constitution: Role and Purpose

The meeting was scheduled to review the fundamental role and purpose of the County Council's Constitution. This included discussions on its interpretation, the process for its review, conditions under which it could be suspended, and the procedures for its publication. The constitution serves as the overarching framework for the council's operations, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in decision-making processes.

Members of the County Council

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the section of the constitution concerning the members of the County Council. This included details on the composition, eligibility, election, and terms of office for councillors. The report pack outlined the roles, functions, rights, and responsibilities of all elected members, emphasizing their collective duty to the community and their constituents. It also covered the Members' Code of Conduct, guidance on member-officer relations, the Members' Allowances Scheme, and a Parental Leave Policy for Members. The Members' Code of Conduct¹ was particularly detailed, outlining principles of integrity, honesty, lawfulness, and respect, and addressing issues such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, and the misuse of position or resources.

Citizens and the County Council

The constitution also details the rights and responsibilities of citizens in their dealings with the County Council. The scheduled discussion was expected to cover citizens' rights to participate in democratic arrangements, including voting and the petitions scheme. It also outlined citizens' rights to access information and to complain about the Council's actions or proposals, including recourse to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman².

The Full Council

The purpose and functions of the Full Council were to be discussed, including its role in deciding the council's overall policies and budget. This section of the constitution details the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules³, which govern how the council's strategic plans and financial strategies are developed and adopted. The Full Council is also responsible for electing the Leader of the Council and appointing various committees.

The Cabinet

The constitution outlines the executive arrangements for the Council, with the Cabinet being the primary body responsible for making key decisions. The scheduled discussion was to cover the appointment and terms of office of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Members. It detailed the role of the Cabinet, the procedure at Cabinet meetings, consultation processes, and the responsibilities of individual Cabinet Members, including general delegations. The report pack also specified the terms of reference for various Cabinet Sub-Committees, such as the Property Sub-Committee⁴ and the County Farm Tenancies Panel⁵.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The role and function of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees were also on the agenda. These committees support the work of the Cabinet and the Council as a whole by reviewing and scrutinising decisions and policies. The constitution details their terms of reference, membership, meetings, work programmes, and the process for 'call-in' decisions made by the Cabinet. The report pack outlined the specific remits of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee⁶, the Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee⁷.

Other Committees

The constitution also establishes various other committees with specific functions. The scheduled discussion was to cover the Planning Committee⁸, the Audit and Standards Committee⁹, the Pensions Committee¹⁰, and the Charities and Trusts Committee¹¹. Each of these committees has defined terms of reference and responsibilities for specific areas of the Council's work.

Joint Arrangements

The constitution addresses how the Council can enter into joint arrangements with other local authorities or bodies to promote economic, social, or environmental well-being. This includes the establishment of Joint Committees and the delegation of functions. The report pack detailed existing joint arrangements, such as the Staffordshire Leaders' Board¹², the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archives Committee¹³, the Cannock Chase National Landscape Joint Committee¹⁴, and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Coroners Committee¹⁵.

Officers

The section on Officers outlined the management structure, the roles of statutory officers (Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer¹⁶, Chief Financial Officer¹⁷, Director of Children's Services¹⁸, Director of Adult Social Care¹⁹, and Director of Public Health²⁰), and the conduct expected of all employees. It detailed the employment procedures, the exercise of delegated powers by officers, financial regulations, contract procedures, and the use of the Council's common seal. The Scheme of Delegation to Officers²¹ provided a detailed breakdown of the powers delegated to various senior officers.

Financial Regulations and Procurement Regulations

The meeting was also scheduled to review the Council's Financial Regulations²² and Procurement Regulations²³. The Financial Regulations cover a wide range of financial management aspects, including financial planning, budgeting, reporting, audit, control, spending, income collection, treasury management, assets, insurance, and other funds. The Procurement Regulations set out the rules and procedures for acquiring goods, works, and services, emphasizing principles of best value, competition, transparency, and compliance with legal obligations.