Feedback
How do you rate this information/service?
Contact
|
Mail :
|
Democratic Support Chief Executive's Plymouth City Council Plymouth PL1 2AA |
|
Phone :
|
01752 305466 |
|
Email :
|
democratic.support@plymouth.gov.uk |
Council's Constitution
Download a copy of Plymouth City Council's Constitution, guidance notes, contract standing orders and Scheme of Delegation from the documents table below.
Summary of the Plymouth City Council Constitution
The Constitution, adopted May 2006 by Plymouth City Council at their Annual General Meeting (AGM), provides a framework for the democratic processes of the Council balancing efficient and effective decision-making with the principles of participatory democracy and open government.
Plymouth City Council is made up of 57 members who collectively make budget and policy decisions. Members are also involved in scrutinising the work of the organisation on the recommendation of Cabinet. The Council is responsible for adopting the Budget and Policy Framework, which is a collection of statutory and framework guidance documents, which set the context in which the Council works. (A list of these documents is provided in appendix 1)
Under the Constitution, the Council operates under executive arrangements using a Leader/Cabinet model. The Leader is elected, from and by the Members of the Council. The Cabinet consists of the Leader and between two and nine Councillors who hold specific portfolios. The Cabinet exercise executive functions. Lead members are appointed by the Leader to assist the Cabinet Members with duties relating to their Portfolios. Lead Members do not have delegated powers.
The Lord Mayor is elected annually from the Members of the Council. The Lord Mayor is the city’s First Citizen and acts as the city’s representative at ceremonial functions. The Lord Mayor also acts as Chair at Council Meetings.
The Constitution also sets out the functions and procedures for overview and scrutiny through the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and its panels which are made up of non-cabinet members who’s duties include reviewing decisions of Cabinet and making recommendations to the Council on policy development.
The Constitution also sets out the functions, procedures and terms of reference for the of the Council’s other Committees.
Included in the Constitution are the access to information procedure rules and Member/Officer codes of conduct and related protocols.
Throughout the Constitution there are electronic links to documents, which provide further detail on how the Council works. In an effort to assist in making the Constitution a living document that is easy to navigate and understand, the Council has also provided a Guidance. This Guidance includes a summary of the rules of debate used by the Council and some easy-to-follow flowcharts of how decisions are made. As this is a living document, it is recognised the Constitution will continue to evolve.
It is the intention of the Council, through the Constitution to provide a window into the operation of the organisation and to encourage public interest and participation in the work and life of Plymouth.
