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Constitution

The Constitution of the Ashford Borough Council explains:

• How the council operates - 
• How decisions are made -
• The procedures which are followed to ensure decisions are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people  -

Some processes are required by law, but certain matters the council can decide itself. -

The Constitution is divided into 16 Articles which set out the basic rules governing the council's business. -

The contents of the Constitution are shown below-:

Part 1 - Summary and Explanation - (Download Part 1 44kb PDF) -

Part 2 - Articles of the Constitution - (Download Part 2 84kb PDF) -

• Article 1 - The Constitution -
• Article 2 - Members of the Council -
• Article 3 - Citizens and the Council -
• Article 4 - Full Council -
• Article 5 - Chairing the Council -
• Article 6 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Policy Advisory Group, Task Groups and other Participative Groups -
• Article 7 - Executive -
• Article 8 - Regulatory and other Committees -
• Article 9 - Standards Committee -
• Article 10 - Area Committees and Forums -
• Article 11 - Joint Arrangements -
• Article 12 - Officers -
• Article 13 - Decision Making -
• Article 14 - Finance, Contracts and Legal Matters -
• Article 15 - Review and Revision of the Constitution -
• Article 16 - Suspension, Interpretation and Publication of the Constitution -
• Schedule 1 - Description of Executive Arrangements -

Part 3 - Responsibility for Functions - (Download Part 3 520kb PDF) -

• Responsibility for Functions -
• Appendix 1 - Functions exercised by the Council -
• Appendix 2 - Functions and powers of the Executive split between Executive Members and Groups constituted by the  Executive to assist it in its work - (Revisions awaited)
• Appendix 2 - Terms. -
• Appendix 3 - Functions not to be the responsibility of the Executive -
• Appendix 4 - Council Committees Terms of Reference and Delegations  -
• Appendix 5 - Scheme of Delegations to Officers, including Proper and Authorised Officers and Designated Posts. -

Part 4 - Rules of Procedure - (Download Part 4 636kb PDF)

• General Procedure Rules (separate index page) -
• Appendix 1 - Procedural Decisions not contained within the General Procedure Rules -
• Appendix 2 - Political Balance -
• Appendix 3 - Procedural Decisions Relating to Committees etc. -
• Appendix 4 - Scheme of Substitutes for Members -
• Access to Information Procedure Rules -
• Appendix 1 - Flowchart - Urgent Rules -
• Appendix 2 - Rights of the Public to Attend Meetings and to Inspect Documents -
• Appendix 3 - Scheme of Public Participation -
• Appendix 4 - Rights of Access to Meetings and Documents by Councillors -
• Financial Procedure Rules 
• Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules -
• Executive Procedure Rules -
• Appendix 1 - Key Decision Thresholds for Individual Portfolio Holders -
• Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules -
• Kent Association of Local Authority Protocol for Overview and Scrutiny Inter-Authority Co-operation -
• Contract Procedures Rules -
• Officer Employment Procedure Rules -

Part 5 - Codes and Protocols - (Revisions Awaited)- (Download Part 5 856kb PDF)

Following the May 2010 General Election, the Government announced its intention to “abolish the Standards Board regime”.  Any updates to this section of the Constitution will await the enactment of the relevant legislation during 2011.

• Code of Conduct 2007 -
• Members’ Code of Conduct (Revisions Awaited)  -
• Appendix 1 – The General Principles – The Ten Principles  (Revisions Awaited)  -
• Appendix 2 – Ashford Borough Council Code of Conduct  (Revisions Awaited) -
• Appendix 3 – Flow Chart to Aid Determination of Interests  (Revisions Awaited) -
• Appendix 4 – Frequently Asked Questions  (Revisions Awaited) -
• Appendix 5 – Defamation and Qualified Privilege  (Revisions Awaited) -
• Good Practice Protocol for Councillors When Dealing With Planning Matters  (Revisions Awaited) -
• Civic Protocols -
• Officers’ Code of Conduct -
• Protocol on Member/Officer Relations -

Part 6 - Members’ Allowances Scheme - (Download Part 6 44kb PDF)

• Members’ Allowances Scheme -
• Schedule 1 - Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances -
• Schedule 2 - Approved Duties -
• Schedule 3 - Travel and Subsistence Allowances -

Part 7 - Management Structure - (Download Part 7 112kb PDF)

• Management Structure -
• Appendix A - Structure -
• Appendix B - Management Team Roles/Functions -

This webpage was updated on 9/7/2011

 

 

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