Constitution and Governance Committee - 9 June 2026

**Leadership appointments and procedural matters** – The meeting began with the election of Councillor Cole as Chairman and Councillor Rowse as Vice‑Chairman, both motions being moved and seconded by fellow councillors and passed on a show of hands. No declarations of interest were recorded. The Committee then approved the minutes of its 31 March 2026 meeting, authorising the Chairman to sign them. A brief discussion highlighted concerns about the clarity and dignity of the Chairman election process at the Annual Council meeting; officers confirmed that the current procedure is dictated by statutory law and cannot be altered without legislative change. Members agreed to include a report clarifying the legal position and possible alternatives in the forthcoming work programme.

**Work programme for 2026‑2027** – The Constitution and Governance Committee’s work programme for the municipal year was adopted, subject to two additions: a review of the Audit Committee’s Terms of Reference and a review of the election of the Chairman at the Annual General Meeting. The resolution also set out the process for amending the programme, assigning responsibility to the Chair, Vice‑Chair, Monitoring Officer and Democratic Lead, with any changes to be effected by the Monitoring Officer and communicated to the Committee. The Audit Committee terms review was subsequently moved and seconded and resolved for inclusion.

**National Planning Committee reforms** – A report outlining the mandatory constitutional changes required to implement the Government’s National Planning Committee reforms was presented. The reforms will restrict the range of applications that can be referred to Planning Committees and shift many decisions to delegated authority, while retaining local discretion over implementation. The Committee noted the impact on democratic oversight, especially the reduction of Member call‑in powers and potential effects on rural and parish communities. Members supported a formal record of these concerns and a recommendation that the Full Council write to Government. Further work will involve updating Member and council protocols over the summer, revising the implementation timetable to 31 October 2026, and producing a subsequent report on the broader implications of the reforms.

**High‑value appointments and exit payments** – The Chief People Officer presented proposals to strengthen the Council’s governance of appointments and exit payments of £100 000 or more, in line with the Localism Act 2011. The proposals include clearer consultation procedures, formalised documentation and an update to the Scheme of Delegation and Pay Policy Statement. After discussion of democratic oversight, the role of the Chief Officers Employment Committee and the scope of the proposals, the Committee resolved to recommend the adoption of the revised Scheme of Delegation and Pay Policy Statement and to add a review of the Employment Committee’s Terms of Reference to the work programme for the year.

**Governance code and budget scrutiny** – The Group Manager (Assurance) introduced an updated Code of Governance, the first revision since 2017, which aligns with current CIPFA/SOLACE guidance