The Constitution of Bexley Council met on Friday 24 April 2026 to discuss and review the council's governing document. The meeting's agenda was focused entirely on the adoption and review of the council's constitution, which outlines how the council operates, makes decisions, and ensures transparency and accountability to its residents.

London Borough of Bexley Constitution

The primary item for discussion was the London Borough of Bexley Constitution. This comprehensive document, approved by the Council on 15 April 2026, serves as the framework for the council's operations and governance. It is divided into three parts:

• Part 1 – Introduction: This section outlines the purpose of the constitution, its contents, and how it is operated. It details the roles and responsibilities of councillors, the Mayor, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. It also covers working conventions, publication, review, amendment, suspension, and interpretation of the constitution, as well as finance, contracts, and legal matters.
• Part 2 – Responsibility for Functions: This part details the division of responsibilities between executive and non-executive functions, outlining how decisions are made within the council. It describes the roles of the Full Council, its committees, the Executive (Cabinet), and the officers. It also covers joint arrangements and the structure of officer responsibilities.
• Part 3 – Procedure Rules: This section contains the detailed procedural rules governing the conduct of council business. This includes Council Procedure Rules, Committee Procedure Rules, Planning Committee Procedure Rules, Employment Procedure Rules, Access to Information Procedure Rules, Contract Procedure Rules, and Financial Regulations.

The constitution aims to enable clear and accountable leadership, ensure regular reviews of policies and standards for service improvement, provide opportunities for citizen involvement, help councillors represent constituents effectively, enable efficient decision-making, hold decision-makers to public account, maintain high standards of conduct, and promote the council's priorities as set out in its Corporate Plan.

The report pack also included detailed appendices covering the Seven Principles of Public Life, the process for registering and disclosing interests, and the protocol on Councillor/Officer Relations. Additionally, the Members' Allowances Scheme was detailed, outlining the basic and special responsibility allowances payable to councillors, as well as travel and subsistence, childcare, and dependent's carer allowances. The scheme also covered the option for councillors to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

The document also elaborated on citizens' rights and responsibilities, community involvement, petitions, deputations, and public questions, outlining the procedures for public engagement with the council. It further detailed the structure and responsibilities of various committees, including the Executive, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Planning Committee, Licensing Committee, and others, as well as the roles and responsibilities of officers, including Statutory Officers like the Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, and Chief Finance Officer. The extensive list of Proper Officer functions and the Officers' Scheme of Delegation were also provided, detailing the specific responsibilities and authorities delegated to various officer roles.