Agenda item

To consider amendments to the Constitution as recommended by the Constitution Task Group at its meeting on 8 June 2026, in addition to a proposed change to Financial Regulations and an update on the legislative changes to the Planning Committee’s responsibilities.

The Committee considered setting out amendments to the Constitution recommended by the Constitution Task Group at its meeting on 8 June 2026, relating to the timing of the Advisory Shareholder Sub-Committee, the method of voting on changes to Council Procedure Rules, and the number of ex-officio Members provided for in the Constitution. Additional amendments were also considered at the meeting to the original proposition. The Committee also considered a proposed amendment to Financial Procedure Rule 14.4, to extend the exception permitting Officers to negotiate and settle leases and rents for industrial units and commercial properties, up to an annual rental of £100,000, without referral to Cabinet, to all such properties rather than Beeston Square alone; and noted forthcoming statutory changes to the Planning Committee's call-in procedure arising from the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which take effect from 31 October 2026 and would be given effect through the Monitoring Officer's delegated authority to make legislative amendments to the Constitution.

RESOLVED that: (1) the amendments to the Constitution, as detailed in Appendix 2 and as amended;

12.11.2 If a motion to proceed to next business is seconded and the Mayor thinks the item has been sufficiently discussed, they will give the mover of the original motion a right of reply and then put the procedural motion to the vote. Any vote at Full Council to move to next business contained in Chapter 2 Of the Constitution, will require a 66% majority of those members voting and present in the room at the time the question was put.

12.11.3 If a motion that the question be now put is seconded and the Mayor thinks the item has been sufficiently discussed, they will put the procedural motion to the vote. Any vote at Full Council that the question now be put contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, will require a 66% majority of those members voting and present in the room at the time the question was put. If it is passed they will give the mover of the original motion a right of reply before putting his/her motion to the vote.

12.11.4 If a motion to adjourn the debate or to adjourn the meeting is seconded and the Mayor thinks the item has not been sufficiently discussed and cannot reasonably be so discussed on that occasion, they will give the mover of the original motion or an amendment, or a substantive motion (as the case may be) a right of reply and then put the procedural motion to the vote. Any vote at Full Council to adjourn a debate or meeting contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution, will require a 66% majority of those members voting and present in the room at the time the question was put.

be recommended to Council;

(2) the proposed amendment to the Financial Regulations be recommended to Council; and

(3) the legislative changes to the Planning Committee, as set out in Appendix 3, and the proposed amendments to the Constitution, be noted.