The Constitution Working Party of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 1 October 2025 to discuss proposed amendments to the council's constitution and to review the work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting resulted in recommendations for proposed changes to the Financial Procedure Rules and the Monitoring Officer Protocol to be advanced for further scrutiny.

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution

The working party considered proposed amendments to the council's constitution, specifically focusing on the Financial Procedure Rules (FPRs) and the Monitoring Officer Protocol.

The amendments to the Financial Procedure Rules are intended to align them with the recently updated Contract Procedure Rules, which were agreed upon at a previous meeting and recommended for approval by the Cabinet. These changes are necessary due to the introduction of new procurement legislation.

Additionally, the Monitoring Officer Protocol is set to be updated to incorporate recommendations from the Local Government Association's (LGA) 2021 guidance on handling complaints related to the Member Model Code of Conduct. This update aims to strengthen the protocol for managing such complaints.

Councillor Christine Carrigan, Vice-Chair of the Communities & Transport Scrutiny Committee, noted that the proposed amendments were sensible, particularly those concerning the Monitoring Officer Protocol. She also acknowledged the necessity of updating the finance procedure rules to support the approved contract procedure rules. Vicki Bates, Assistant Director for Governance and Monitoring Officer, confirmed that while further changes to the Monitoring Officer Protocol might be required depending on government responses to consultations on standards, it was important to reflect the LGA guidance promptly.

The working party agreed to recommend that these proposed amendments proceed to the CRMG Scrutiny Committee for further review.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee also reviewed the proposed work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. Damien Eaton, from Democratic Services and Clerk to the Committee, presented the revised programme, which included items suggested by officers, members, and referrals from the council meeting, as well as additional suggestions made by the working party itself.

Councillor Anna Charles-Jones and Councillor Steve Gribbon, Chair of the Planning & Highways Regulation Committee, indicated their approval of the proposed schedule. Councillor Jilly Julian, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Innovation, cautioned that the work programme was ambitious and suggested members should bring snacks for December's meeting due to the anticipated volume of work.

The working party was content with the proposed work programme and the scheduling of items.