The Constitution Committee of the London Borough of Barnet met on 26 January 2026 to discuss the Council's Constitution. The meeting's agenda focused on reviewing and potentially amending the existing framework that governs how the council operates, makes decisions, and conducts its business.

The Council Constitution

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Council Constitution itself. This comprehensive document outlines the operational parameters for the council, detailing how decisions are made, the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of various bodies and individuals within the council. The Constitution is divided into several parts, covering:

• The Articles: These set out the fundamental provisions of the Constitution, including the council's powers, its purpose, and how it will be interpreted and amended.
• Allocation of Responsibilities: This section details the terms of reference for the Council, its committees, sub-committees, joint arrangements, and the Cabinet, as well as the delegation of duties to officers.
• Rules of Procedure: This covers the procedural rules for the Council, the Executive, committees, budget and policy development, access to information, and the petition scheme.
• Regulations, Rules and Codes: This part includes financial regulations, contract procedure rules, HR regulations, codes of conduct for members and officers, and the code of corporate governance.

The report pack provided to attendees detailed the various sections of the Constitution, including the Articles, which define the council's structure and decision-making processes, and the roles of Members and Officers. It also outlined the terms of reference for different committees and the allocation of responsibilities within the council's governance structure. The intention was to ensure the council operates efficiently, transparently, and accountably to its residents.