This meeting was to consider the adoption of the most recent version of Wandsworth Borough Council's constitution¹. The document included for discussion was the complete constitution, as amended up to March 2025.

Adoption of the constitution

This version of the constitution was originally adopted in September 2001, and most recently updated in July 2016 to take account of the Shared Staffing Arrangement with Richmond-upon-Thames London Borough Council. This arrangement means that the vast majority of staff are jointly employed by both Wandsworth and Richmond Councils and that most services are managed by senior staff working across both councils. There is, however, a sovereignty guarantee in place, which ensures that decisions about services in each borough are made by the councillors for that borough. The report pack explains that a constitution is necessary to comply with the Local Government Act 2000. It is divided into 16 articles that set out the basic rules governing the council's business as well as more detailed procedures and codes of practice like the scheme of delegation to officers. The report pack summarises the rights of citizens, which include the right to vote, to contact their councillor, to obtain information and to complain about services they receive. The pack highlights the right of citizens to access information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which is enshrined in article 3 of the constitution. The constitution also enshrines citizens' right to make deputations to the council and some of its committees. In particular the document explains:

Committees and sub-committees may agree to receive deputations from members of the public to enable them to address the committee/sub-committee about a matter on the agenda for their meeting.

The report pack explains that the Executive is the part of the council which is responsible for most of the day to day decisions. The Executive is composed of the Leader and up to nine Cabinet Members who are appointed by the Leader. The report pack then describes the five overview and scrutiny committees, the six regulatory and other committees² and the standards committee. The standards committee is responsible for promoting high standards of conduct, and its members include three independent people.

The document states that there is also a Joint Staffing Committee and a Joint Pensions Committee to deal with matters related to staff. These committees are composed of councillors from both Wandsworth and Richmond councils. The report pack describes the role of the council's officers, and says that a code of conduct governs the relationship between officers and councillors. It also explains that the Chief Executive and Executive Directors have been given delegated authority by the Council to carry out certain functions.

The constitution of a council is a document which sets out the council's formal rules and procedures. ↩
Regulatory and other committees include the committees that are responsible for: planning applications, regulatory licensing, licensing, pensions and general purposes. ↩

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Agenda

Summary

Adoption of the constitution

Attendees

Documents