The Constitution Committee of Barnet Council met on Monday 18 May 2026 to discuss the council's governing document. The meeting's agenda focused entirely on the Council Constitution, outlining its structure, procedures, and the roles of its various components.

Council Constitution

The primary focus of the meeting was the comprehensive review and discussion of the London Borough of Barnet's Council Constitution. This document serves as the rulebook for how the council operates, detailing the framework for decision-making, the roles of elected members and officers, and the procedures for conducting council business.

The Constitution is divided into several key parts, each addressing a different aspect of the council's governance:

• Part 1: The Articles - This section sets out the fundamental provisions of the Constitution, including the overarching principles, the roles of members and the council, the Mayor, decision-making processes, the Executive (Cabinet), and officers. It establishes that the Council will act within the law and its own Constitution, and outlines the purpose of the Constitution, which includes enabling clear leadership, fostering partnership, supporting citizen involvement, enabling effective decision-making, and ensuring high standards of ethics and probity.
• Part 2: Allocation of Responsibilities - This part details how responsibilities are allocated across different council bodies, including the Full Council, various Committees and Sub-Committees, Joint Arrangements, and the Cabinet. It specifies the terms of reference for these bodies, outlining their specific functions and delegated duties.
• Part 3: Rules of Procedure - This section covers the procedural rules governing how the Council, the Executive, and its Committees operate. It includes Council Procedure Rules, Executive Procedure Rules, Committee Procedure Rules, Budget and Policy Procedure Rules, Access to Information Procedure Rules, and a Petition Scheme. These rules dictate how meetings are conducted, how decisions are made, and how the public can participate.
• Part 4: Regulations, Rules and Codes - This part contains a range of regulations, rules, and codes that underpin the council's operations. These include Financial Regulations, Contract Procedure Rules, HR Regulations, Codes of Conduct for Members and Officers, Codes of Practice on Local Authority Publicity, and the Members' Allowances Scheme. These documents provide detailed guidance on financial management, procurement, employment practices, ethical conduct, and communication.

The report pack provided an in-depth overview of each of these sections, detailing the specific articles, rules, and regulations that govern the functioning of the London Borough of Barnet Council. This included information on how the council operates, how decisions are made, the roles of overview and scrutiny, other committees, and the council's staff. It also outlined citizens' rights in their dealings with the council. The detailed breakdown of each part of the Constitution was intended to ensure that all attendees had a clear understanding of the council's governing framework.