The Constitution of North Northamptonshire Council met on Monday 27 April 2026 to discuss the proposed adoption of the council's constitution. The constitution, a comprehensive document outlining the council's operational framework, decision-making processes, and public participation rights, was presented for review.

North Northamptonshire Constitution

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the council's constitution, a document that details how North Northamptonshire Council operates, how its decisions are made, and the procedures that will be followed. This constitution is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2000, and while some processes are legally mandated, others are in place to ensure accountability, transparency, and that decisions are made in the public interest. The constitution governs the actions of elected councillors, co-opted members, officers, contractors, and third parties where identified. It is written in plain English to ensure accessibility, and suggestions for improvement can be made to the Monitoring Officer. Changes to the constitution can only be made by the full council in a public session, unless they are minor administrative changes with no significant impact.

The constitution is divided into nine parts:

• Part One: Summary and Explanation - Outlines what the Council is and how it operates.
• Part Two: Public Participation and Rights - Details how the public can get involved in decision-making and their rights.
• Part Three: Council - Sets out the Council's Rules of Procedure, including the Budget and Policy Framework.
• Part Four: Committees - Details the Terms of Reference for non-executive committees, establishing their powers, remit, and meeting procedures.
• Part Five: Executive - Outlines the rules relating to the Executive, the Council's primary decision-making body.
• Part Six: Scrutiny - Sets out the rules for Scrutiny Committees, which review and challenge the work of the Executive.
• Part Seven: Joint Arrangements - Details arrangements for services jointly delivered with West Northamptonshire Council.
• Part Eight: Councillors - Covers matters relating to standards and allowances for elected members.
• Part Nine: Officers - Sets out the financial, contractual, and employment rules applicable to officers.

The constitution also details how the council operates, including the roles of councillors and employees, and the procedures for council meetings. It emphasizes the importance of councillors being accountable to their constituents while making decisions in the interest of the entire North Northamptonshire area. Officers, led by the Chief Executive, are responsible for advising, implementing decisions, and managing day-to-day services. All formal decision-making meetings are open to the public, except for confidential or exempt items.

The document also includes a section on Decision Making, explaining the principles that guide the council, such as proportionality, consultation, respect for human rights, best value, transparency, clarity of objectives, consideration of alternatives, and providing reasons for decisions. It outlines the different types of decisions and who makes them, including the Council, the Executive, and Scrutiny Committees. Key decisions are defined as executive decisions likely to result in significant expenditure or savings (above £500,000) or have a significant effect on communities across two or more wards. The rules for finance, contracts, and legal matters, including the affixing of the Council's Common Seal, are also detailed.

Furthermore, the constitution addresses Public Participation and Rights, outlining how citizens can get involved through councillors, the Executive, Scrutiny Committees, local meetings, and petitions. It details the procedures for speaking at meetings, submitting questions, and accessing reports and background papers. The Role of the Council section specifies the functions reserved for Full Council, including adopting and amending the constitution, approving the Budget and Policy Framework, setting Council Tax, and appointing committees. The Meeting Procedure Rules govern how council and committee meetings are conducted, including rules on debate, voting, and the conduct of councillors and the public. The Budget and Policy Framework and Procedure Rules explain how the framework is developed and the process for conflict resolution.

The constitution also details the Governance Structure, outlining the various committees and their terms of reference, including the Planning Committee, Democracy and Standards Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Health and Wellbeing Board, Employment Committee, and Licensing and Appeals Committee. The Executive Procedure Rules and Access to Information Procedure Rules govern the operations of the Executive and public access to information. Joint Arrangements with West Northamptonshire Council and the Northamptonshire Children's Trust are also outlined, alongside the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, which define the role and operation of Scrutiny Committees.

Finally, the constitution includes sections on the Roles of Councillors and Office Holders, the Member Code of Conduct, Member Complaints Procedure, Member Officer Protocol, Planning Protocol, Planning Committee Site Visit Protocol, Scheme of Members' Allowances, Outside Bodies Procedure Rules, Management Structure, Officer Scheme of Delegation, List of Proper Officers, Officer Code of Conduct, Officer Employment Procedure Rules, Contract Procedure Rules, and Financial Procedure Rules. These sections collectively provide a comprehensive framework for the council's governance and operational procedures.