The Constitution Working Party of Stockport Council met on Tuesday 19 August 2025 to review updates to the council's constitution and consider proposed amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules. The meeting also discussed a work programme for the upcoming year and a grant from the Ward Flexibility Funding budget.

Ward Flexibility Funding - Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC

An application from the Stockport LGBT+ Centre CIC for a grant of £201 from the Ward Flexibility Funding Budget was discussed. This funding would contribute to the cost of hosting a 'Fabulously Me' event at a central, accessible location in Stockport. The grant was proposed to be allocated from the Edgeley ward (£60), Brinnington and Stockport Central ward (£47), Davenport and Cale Green ward (£47), and Manor ward (£47). Consultation with local ward councillors regarding the grant was noted.

Update to the Constitution - Contract Procedure Rules and Work Programme for 2025/26

The Working Party considered a report detailing proposed amendments to the council's Constitution, specifically focusing on the Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) and the development of a Work Programme for the 2025/26 municipal year.

The proposed amendments to the CPRs are largely driven by the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect on 24 February 2025. These changes aim to harmonise procurement processes across the STAR (Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Rochdale, Knowsley, St Helens) partnership authorities and ensure compliance with new legislation. Key changes include terminology updates, revised award criteria to reflect the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) principle, and updated procedures for direct awards, exemptions, and contract modifications. The report noted that the Procurement Handbook would provide more detailed procedural guidance. The Working Party was recommended to note and comment on these proposed amendments, and to recommend that the report proceed to the Corporate Resource & Management Scrutiny Committee.

The report also outlined proposals for the Working Party's Work Programme for 2025/26. These included reviewing the Financial Procedure Rules to align with the new CPRs, examining the scheme of delegation to officers, reviewing the process for signing grant agreements, and considering inconsistencies in lease sign-off processes. Additionally, the Working Party was asked to consider two public questions referred from the Council Meeting: one regarding the formal recording of individual councillor votes at local committee meetings, and another concerning public speaking rights at the Highways and Regulation Committee for planning applications referred without recommendation. The Working Party was asked to agree which items from the proposed work programme should be approved for further investigation.

Constitution - Update Monitoring

The Working Party received an overview of updates made to the council's constitution during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 municipal years. These updates, made in exercise of delegated authority or approved by the Council Meeting, included typographical changes, amendments to job titles, and adjustments to ensure compliance with legislation. The report detailed six versions of the Constitution published during the reporting period, incorporating changes such as the implementation of revised Contract Procedure Rules, clarifications to Individual Cabinet Member Functions, updates to Officer Functions and Proper Officer Appointments, and amendments to the Confidential Reporting Policy. The Working Party was recommended to comment on and note this report.