The Staffordshire County Council Constitution Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday 12 August 2026 was set to review the council's governing document, the Constitution. The report pack provided to attendees detailed the various sections of the Constitution, outlining how the council operates, the roles of its members and officers, and the procedures for decision-making and public engagement.

The County Council's Constitution: Role and Purpose

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the fundamental role and purpose of the County Council's Constitution. This included how the Constitution is interpreted, the process for its review and potential suspension, and the procedures for its publication to ensure transparency and accessibility for the public.

Introduction to How the Council Works

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to understanding the foundational elements of how Staffordshire County Council operates. This included outlining the rights of County Councillors, officers, and citizens, and detailing the principles that guide decision-making processes. The report pack specifically mentioned the principles of decision-making, the role of Cabinet decisions, the definition of Key Decisions, and the function of Scrutiny committees.

Members of the County Council

The composition, eligibility, election, and terms of office for County Councillors were scheduled for discussion. The report pack also detailed the roles, functions, rights, and responsibilities of all councillors. Key documents for consideration included the Members' Code of Conduct, guidance on Member/Officer relations, the Members' Allowances Scheme, the Parental Leave Policy for Members, and the Councillor Dress Code.

Citizens and the County Council

The meeting was set to cover the rights of citizens in their dealings with the council, including their rights to participate in democratic arrangements, access information, and make complaints. A specific focus was placed on the council's petitions scheme, outlining how petitions are submitted, processed, and responded to.

The Full Council

The purpose and functions of the Full Council were to be discussed, including its responsibilities for approving the Budget and Policy Framework. This encompassed the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Strategic Plan, as well as the procedure rules for budget and policy framework changes. The meeting was also to cover the functions of the Full Council, including Local Choice Functions, and the procedures for Council meetings, including how they are chaired.

The Cabinet

The meeting agenda included a review of the Cabinet's executive arrangements, including the appointment and terms of office for the Leader, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Members. The role of the Cabinet, its decision-making processes, and the procedures at Cabinet meetings were to be examined. This also encompassed consultation processes, Cabinet Member responsibilities, and the terms of reference for Boards and Cabinet Sub-Committees, including the Property Sub-Committee and the County Farm Tenancies Panel. The Shadow Cabinet's role was also to be discussed.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The general role and function of Overview and Scrutiny Committees were scheduled for discussion, along with their specific terms of reference, membership, and co-option arrangements. The meeting was also to cover the procedures for meetings of these committees, their work programmes and budgets, and how Cabinet Members and officers are held accountable. The process of call-in for decisions was also to be detailed.

Other Committees

The report pack outlined the terms of reference for several other committees, including the Planning Committee, Audit and Standards Committee, Pensions Committee, and Charities and Trusts Committee.

Joint Arrangements

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the general principles of joint arrangements and the terms of reference for existing joint committees. This included details on how the council collaborates with other local authorities and bodies to promote economic, social, or environmental well-being.

Officers

The structure of the council's officer management, the roles of statutory officers, and the conduct, employment, and exercise of delegated powers by officers were to be discussed. This section also covered the Scheme of Delegation, the Local Code of Conduct for Officers, the Whistleblowing Policy, the Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Theft Policy, and Officer Employment Rules.

Procedural Standing Orders

The meeting was set to review the Procedural Standing Orders, which govern how council meetings are conducted. This included rules on meetings, quorums, minutes, questions from members, motions, and the conduct of members and the public.

Access to Information Procedure Rules

The rules governing access to information, agendas, reports, and minutes were scheduled for discussion. This included procedures for the exclusion of the public from meetings and the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

Financial Regulations

The meeting was to consider the council's Financial Regulations, covering financial planning, budgeting, reporting, audit, control, spending, income, treasury management, assets, insurance, and other funds.

Procurement Regulations

The final section of the report pack detailed the Council's Procurement Regulations, covering procurement processes, the contracts register, the procurement toolkit, public procurement regulations, and exemptions and exceptions.