The Constitution and Ethics Committee of Leicestershire County Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss proposed revisions to the council's constitution, including changes to standing orders and the introduction of new planning governance arrangements. The committee also reviewed the council's role in managing charitable trusts and discussed proposals for mandatory member training.

Review of the Constitution

The committee considered several proposed amendments to the council's constitution. One key change discussed was to clarify that the requirement to remain apolitical applies only to the Chairman, not the Vice-Chairman, allowing the Vice-Chairman to continue participating in committee meetings. Another proposal was to require supplementary questions for full County Council meetings to be submitted in writing by 12 noon on the day of the meeting, aiming to ensure questions are answered more effectively. A further amendment proposed that notices of motion must relate to matters of strategic policy or county-wide significance affecting more than one electoral division.

There was considerable debate regarding the proposed changes to supplementary questions and notices of motion. Some members expressed concern that the new rules for supplementary questions would stifle debate and that the 12 noon deadline was inconvenient. Others felt that requiring written supplementary questions would allow for better-prepared answers. Regarding notices of motion, there was a discussion about the interpretation of county-wide significance and the potential for the new rule to limit members' ability to raise important local issues.

Ultimately, the committee decided to postpone the decision on these constitutional amendments to allow for further discussion and refinement of the wording, particularly concerning notices of motion and supplementary questions. The proposed changes to the role of the Vice-Chairman were also deferred as part of this postponement.

Government Planning Reforms: Amendment to Planning Governance, Delegations and Member Planning Code Arrangements

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing upcoming government planning reforms that necessitate changes to the council's planning governance and delegation arrangements. These reforms, stemming from the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and associated regulations, aim to streamline planning decisions by delegating more minor and technical applications to officers, while ensuring planning committees focus on proposals of greater significance.

The new national scheme categorises applications into Schedule 1 (must be delegated to officers) and Schedule 2 (decision made jointly by a nominated officer and member, with a gateway assessment for referral to the Development Control and Regulatory Board - DCRB). The council's existing delegation scheme, DCRB terms of reference, and Members' Planning Code of Good Practice needed to be updated to align with these reforms, which come into effect on 31 October 2026.

Many councillors expressed strong opposition to these reforms, viewing them as undemocratic and a reduction in local say over planning decisions. Concerns were raised about decisions being made in secret by officers and the potential for increased pressure on planning officers and committee chairs. However, it was acknowledged that compliance with the new regulations is mandatory to avoid judicial review.

The committee was presented with proposed amendments to the constitution, officer delegations, and a revised Members' Planning Code of Good Practice. Guidance for the nominated member and nominated officer on applying the referral gateway was also discussed. The committee was asked to recommend these changes to the County Council for approval.

Despite the strong reservations, the committee agreed to recommend the proposed constitutional amendments, acknowledging that the council had no choice but to comply with the national legislation. An additional rider was proposed to attach the committee's concerns and thoughts to the recommendations.

Learning and Development

The committee reviewed the council's arrangements for member learning and development, particularly concerning standards and ethical governance. A report highlighted that while the council had a Member Learning and Development Strategy, it lacked formal approval and needed updating.

Proposals included delivering an in-person training session in Autumn 2026 covering the Members' Code of Conduct, registration of interests, social media use, member/officer relations, and the complaints process. Crucially, the committee supported the principle of making Code of Conduct training mandatory for all elected members following their election. Arrangements for monitoring attendance and reporting non-completion were also discussed, with the aim of ensuring transparency and supporting members in completing essential training.

The Council's Charity Trustee and Trustee Appointment Roles

The committee received a report outlining the council's various roles in relation to charitable trusts, including acting as a corporate charity trustee, holding trustee, custodian trustee, or having the power to appoint trustees. The report emphasised the legal distinction between these roles and the importance of acting in the best interests of the charity.

A summary of the council's current known charity-related roles was presented, including funds such as the Kibworth Beauchamp Funds, Mary Smith Scholarship Fund, and Hinckley John Cleveland Funds. The report proposed the establishment and maintenance of a single consolidated register of these roles to ensure proper recording, protection, and use of charitable assets.

The committee was asked to note the current summary, support the creation of the consolidated register, and agree that future reports should clearly distinguish the council's capacity in each charity-related matter.

The next meeting of the Constitution and Ethics Committee was scheduled for 19 November 2026.