Constitution
Central Bedfordshire Council's constitution is made under Section 37 of the Local Government Act 2000. The purpose of the constitution is to provide a framework of rules governing the way in which Central Bedfordshire Council exercises its functions and takes decisions. The council is required to maintain an up-to-date constitution.
Central Bedfordshire Council has agreed a constitution which sets out how the council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people. Some of these processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the council to choose.
You can download the constitution by section below:
- Part 1 Introduction
- Part 2 Article 1 – The Constitution
- Part 2 Article 2 – Members of the Council
- Part 2 Article 3 – Citizens and The Council
- Part 2 Article 4 – The Full Council – Budget and Policy Framework
- Part 2 Article 5 – Chairing the Council
- Part 2 Article 6 – Overview and Scrutiny Committees
- Part 2 Article 7 – The Executive
- Part 2 Article 8 – Regulatory and Other Committees
- Part 2 Article 9 – Area Committees and Forums
- Part 2 Article 10 – Joint Arrangements
- Part 2 Article 11 – Officers
- Part 2 Article 12 – Decision Making
- Part 2 Article 13 – Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters
- Part 2 Article 14 – Review and Revision of the Constitution
- Part 2 Article 15 – Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution
- Part 3A – Allocation of Responsibility for Functions – Full Council and Executive
- Part 3B – Delegations to Regulatory and Other Committees
- Part 3C – Overview and Scrutiny Arrangements and Terms of Reference
- Part 3D – Delegations to Joint Committees
- Part 3E – Scheme of Delegations to Directors and other Officers
- Part 4A – Council Procedure Rules
- Part 4B – Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules
- Part 4C – Executive Procedure Rules
- Part 4D – Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules
- Part 4E – Committee Procedure Rules
- Part 4F – Access to Information Procedure Rules
- Part 4G – Public Participation Procedures (Including Petitions Scheme)
- Part 4H – Partnerships Protocol
- Part 4I – Code of Financial Governance
- Part 4J – Code of Procurement Governance
- Part 4K – Officer Employment Procedure Rules
- Part 4L – Hybrid Meetings Procedure
- Part 5A – Members' Code of Conduct
- Part 5B – Arrangements for dealing with Standards Allegations
- Part 5C – Officers Code of Conduct
- Part 5D – Protocol for Member/Officer Relations
- Part 5E – Monitoring Officer Protocol
- Part 5F – Social Media Policy for Members
- Part 6A – Scheme of Members Allowances
- Part 6B – Management Structure
- Ethical Handbook
- Glossary of Terms