The Constitution of Wokingham Council met on Thursday 21 May 2026 to discuss its governing document. The report pack provided to attendees outlined the entirety of the Council Constitution for review.

The Council Constitution

The meeting's report pack contained the full Wokingham Borough Council Constitution¹ for discussion. This comprehensive document outlines the rules and procedures that govern the Council's operations, decision-making processes, and the roles and responsibilities of Councillors and Officers.

The Constitution is structured into several chapters, covering:

• Introduction, Summary, and Explanation: This section details the purpose and duties of the Constitution, the rights of residents and the public, and the relationship between the Council, Councillors, and Officers.
• Structure and Decision Making: This chapter explains how decisions are made within the Council, outlining the responsibilities of Full Council, the Executive, Committees, and Officers. It also defines Key Decisions and the procedures for their approval and scrutiny.
• Public Participation and Rights: This section details how the public can engage with the Council, including rights to vote, petition, access information, and participate in meetings. It also covers the Council's Freedom of Information and Data Protection policies.
• Roles and Functions of the Full Council: This chapter outlines the specific functions reserved for Full Council, such as adopting the Constitution, setting the budget, and agreeing the overarching policy framework.
• Rules of Procedure for Council and Committees: This section provides the detailed rules governing how meetings of the Council and its committees are conducted, including rules on debate, questions, motions, and voting.
• The Executive: This chapter describes the role, composition, and responsibilities of the Executive, which is responsible for most significant decisions within the Council's policy and budget framework. It also details the roles of the Leader, Deputy Leader, and Executive Councillors, as well as the procedures for Executive meetings and decisions.
• Overview and Scrutiny: This section outlines the functions and terms of reference for the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which are responsible for holding the Executive to account, developing policy, and monitoring performance.
• Statutory and Other Committees: This chapter details the terms of reference and procedure rules for various statutory and other committees, including the Audit Committee, Planning Committee, Licensing and Appeals Committee, and Standards Committee.
• Other Bodies: This section covers the governance arrangements for Councillors appointed to represent the Council on outside bodies, such as trusts, companies, and partnerships.
• Councillors: This chapter outlines the roles and functions of Councillors, including their allowances, code of conduct, and relationship with Council Officers.
• Officers: This chapter details the general principles governing Officers, their responsibilities, the scheme of delegation, and codes of conduct for employees.
• Corporate Governance: This section covers the Council's commitment to good governance, including financial regulations, procurement rules, and policies to prevent and detect fraud and corruption.

The report pack provided a comprehensive overview of the Council's governing document, detailing the framework within which all Council business is conducted.