The Constitution Committee of Gloucestershire County Council met on Monday 12 October 2026 to discuss changes to the council's governance and operational procedures. The committee resolved to recommend amendments to the council's constitution to Full Council concerning the Local Government Pension Scheme and the Town and Country Planning Act, and also to recommend amendments for the adoption of electronic sealing and signing of council documents.

Changes to the Constitution Arising from Local Government Pension Scheme Reforms

The committee resolved to recommend to Full Council amendments to the council's constitution to implement the 2026 Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) governance reforms. These reforms necessitate the appointment of an LGPS Senior Officer and an Independent Person, alongside clearer governance and delegation arrangements. The proposed changes aim to establish a distinct separation of responsibilities between the Pension Committee, the LGPS Senior Officer, and the Section 151 Officer. The Pension Committee's composition will be updated to include seven County Councillors, two employer representatives, and two scheme member representatives, all with equal voting rights, while the County Council will retain a majority. The committee's core purpose, composition, voting arrangements, and functions will be detailed in Part 3 of the constitution, with a new protocol in Part 4 outlining appointment, training, conflict of interest, meeting, quorum, and decision-making procedures. These amendments will be recommended to Full Council for approval.

Planning Committees and the National Scheme of Delegation

The committee resolved to recommend to Full Council constitutional changes to align the council's planning governance with the new national scheme of delegation introduced by the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026. This legislation presumes that routine and technical planning decisions will be made by qualified officers, with committee involvement reserved for applications raising significant planning issues. The council's constitution, Planning Committee terms of reference, and scheme of delegation will be amended to remove or revise local call-in and referral arrangements that conflict with this national framework. Applications can only be referred to the Planning Committee if permitted by the Regulations and if specific statutory tests are met.

Under the new scheme, the formal decision on whether qualifying applications should be referred to the Planning Committee will be made jointly by a nominated officer and a nominated committee member. It was proposed that the Assistant Director of Planning and Economic Development and the Chair of the Planning Committee would hold these roles, respectively, with designated substitutes. The existing Planning Committee Delegation Review Panel will be reformed into a Planning Committee Delegation Advisory Panel, which will provide input and recommendations but will no longer make the formal referral decision. The Planning Committee will retain its current membership of 11 County Councillors. The committee expressed opposition to the government-imposed changes, noting they restrict the role of elected members in planning decisions, but recognised the necessity of aligning the constitution with the regulations to ensure legal compliance. The amendments will be referred to Full Council for approval.

Standing Order 21: Photography and Audio Recording of Meetings

The committee considered potential constitutional changes to Standing Order 21 regarding photography and audio recording of meetings in light of privacy concerns raised by smart glasses. While the current standing order permits recording subject to safeguards, some members expressed concerns about the unobtrusive nature of smart glasses and the potential for covert recording. Other members felt there was insufficient evidence to warrant a ban. It was agreed that a report would be prepared for a future meeting to detail relevant legislation, potential council powers to restrict recording devices, and any implications for the Code of Conduct.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution for Electronic Sealing and Signing of Documents

The committee resolved to recommend to Full Council amendments to the constitution to enable the council to formally adopt electronic sealing and signing for documents. This change will allow for the use of electronic signatures and seals as an alternative to physical seals and wet-ink signatures, reflecting advances in technology and the increasing prevalence of remote working. The proposals aim to improve efficiency, resilience, and auditability, while also offering potential cost and environmental benefits. The Monitoring Officer will be authorised to oversee the relevant systems and processes. These amendments will be recommended to Full Council for approval.

Amendment to Delegation DCR19: Emergency Planning

The committee noted an amendment made by the Monitoring Officer to delegation DCR19. This change replaces the reference to the Emergency Planning Team with Emergency Planning, clarifying that the delegation applies to the council's emergency planning functions as an activity, rather than being tied to a specific organisational team.

Amendment to the Council's Scheme of Delegation to Clarify Operational Responsibility for Social Value Team

The committee noted an amendment made by the Monitoring Officer to delegation DEEI6. This amendment corrects an omission in the council's scheme of delegation by including the Social Value function within the services for which the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure has operational responsibility. This change provides clarity on operational decision-making for the Social Value Team.