The Leicestershire County Council Constitution committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday 13 May 2026 was set to discuss the council's constitution. The report pack provided attendees with a detailed overview of the constitution's purpose, structure, and the various articles and schedules that govern the council's operations.

The County Council's Constitution

The Leicestershire County Council Constitution, formally adopted on 11 April 2001, outlines how the council operates, makes decisions, and ensures its processes are efficient, transparent, and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are legally mandated, while others are determined by the council itself. The Constitution is divided into 16 Articles, which establish the fundamental rules for the council's business, with more detailed procedures and codes of practice found in subsequent sections.

The Constitution commits the council to providing clear leadership, taking efficient and effective decisions, holding decision-makers accountable, and improving service delivery. The Articles cover various aspects of the council's structure and functions, including:

• Members of the County Council (Article 2): This section details the composition of the council, eligibility for membership, election cycles, and the roles, rights, and duties of county councillors. It also outlines expected standards of conduct and the members' allowances scheme.
• Citizens and the County Council (Article 3): This article outlines citizens' rights, such as the right to vote, contact councillors, obtain a copy of the Constitution, attend meetings (except where confidential matters are discussed), and the right to complain to the council, the Ombudsman, or the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer. It also specifies citizens' responsibilities, such as not engaging in abusive behaviour towards councillors or officers.
• The Full County Council (Article 4): This article defines the Policy Framework and Budget and outlines the exclusive functions of the full County Council, which include adopting and changing the Constitution, approving the Policy Framework and Budget, making decisions outside the Budget or Policy Framework, appointing the Leader and Cabinet Support Members, agreeing terms of reference for committees, and appointing representatives to outside bodies. It also details the types of County Council meetings: Annual, Ordinary (including Budget Meetings), and Extraordinary.
• Chairing the County Council (Article 5): This article defines the role and function of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council, including upholding the Constitution, presiding over meetings fairly, promoting public involvement, and undertaking civic and ceremonial functions.
• Overview and Scrutiny Committees (Article 6): This section details the terms of reference, proceedings, and general and specific functions of overview and scrutiny committees. These committees are established to review and scrutinise council functions, make reports and recommendations, support policy development, and monitor the Executive's decisions. Specific functions include policy development and review, scrutiny of decisions and performance, and scrutiny of health services.
• The Executive (Article 7): This article outlines the role, form, and composition of the Executive, which is responsible for carrying out the council's functions not assigned to other parts of the council. It details the roles of the Leader, Deputy Leader, and Lead Members, and the proceedings of the Executive, including that executive decision-making meetings are generally open to the public unless confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed.
• The Health and Wellbeing Board (Article 7A): This article establishes the Health and Wellbeing Board as a subcommittee of the Executive, responsible for functions conferred by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, including preparing the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
• Regulatory Boards and Other Committees (Article 8): This article states that the full County Council will appoint committees to discharge functions described in Part 3 of the Constitution.
• The Corporate Governance Committee (Article 9): This article establishes the Corporate Governance Committee, outlining its composition and terms of reference, which are found in Part 3 of the Constitution.
• Area Committees and Forums (Article 10): This article outlines the potential for the County Council to appoint area committees if it is satisfied that doing so will improve service delivery and decision-making. It details their form, composition, function, and rules regarding conflicts of interest and access to information.
• Joint Arrangements (Article 11): This article covers arrangements for promoting well-being, establishing joint committees with other local authorities, and delegations to and from other local authorities.
• Officers (Article 12): This article details the management structure, chief officers, and the specific functions of the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and designated Scrutiny Officer. It also outlines the duty to provide sufficient resources for the Monitoring Officer and Chief Financial Officer and the conduct expected of officers.
• Decision-making (Article 13): This article outlines the principles of decision-making, including proportionality, due consultation, professional advice, respect for human rights, openness, clarity of aims, and explanation of options. It defines Key Decisions and outlines decision-making procedures for the full County Council, the Executive, overview and scrutiny committees, and other committees acting as tribunals.
• Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters (Article 14): This article covers financial management, contracts, legal proceedings, and the authentication of documents, including the common seal of the County Council.
• Review and Revision of the Constitution (Article 15): This article outlines the duty to monitor and review the Constitution and the process for making changes to it.
• Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution (Article 16): This article details the rules regarding the suspension of the Constitution's Articles and Rules, interpretation of the Constitution, and its publication.

The report pack also included Schedules detailing the Executive Arrangements, Plans and Strategies forming the Policy Framework, and tables outlining Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Area Committees and Forums, Chief Officers, and the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and designated Scrutiny Officer. Parts 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, and 4H of the Constitution, covering Responsibility for Functions, Meeting Procedure Rules, Access to Information Procedure Rules, Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, Executive Procedure Rules, Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, Financial Procedure Rules, Contract Procedure Rules, and Officer Employment Procedure Rules respectively, were also provided. Additionally, the Members' Code of Conduct, Planning Code of Good Practice, Officers' Code of Conduct, Protocol on Member/Officer Relations, Members' Allowances Scheme, and the Record of Specific Delegations were included.

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the adoption and potential revision of the council's constitution, outlining the framework for its governance and operational procedures.