The Constitution of Hampshire County Council

The purpose of this Constitution is to set out in a single place and in clear language how the County Council works and how it makes decisions.

The County Council is responsible for a wide range of services.  It must provide some of these services by law; others are discretionary.

The County Council is a statutory corporation; that is, a body created by government under an Act of Parliament.  A statutory corporation can only do things it is specifically authorised to do by law, by regulations (often referred to as statutory instruments) and by decisions of government ministers, who have themselves been authorised by Parliament.

• Download the full Constitution of Hampshire County Council  792kb

If you would like a copy of the Constitution in an alternative format please contact legal.practice@hants.gov.uk

Contents of the Constitution

• Introduction and summary overview  44kb

Part 1

• Chapter 1 – Outline  19kb
• Chapter 2 – Members of the Council  29kb
• Chapter 3 – Members of the public and the County Council  28kb
• Chapter 4 – The Role of the County Council  23kb
• Chapter 5 – Chairing of the County Council  13kb
• Chapter 6 – Arrangements to perform Regulatory Functions  18kb
• Chapter 7 – The Audit Committee  16kb
• Chapter 8 – The Standards Committee  17kb
• Chapter 9 – The Executive  22kb
• Chapter 10 – Area-based Committees and Panels  16kb
• Chapter 11 – Officers  32kb
• Chapter 12 – Select (Overview and Scrutiny) Committees and Health (Overview and Scrutiny) Committee  16kb
• Chapter 13 – Decision making  17kb
• Chapter 14 – Legal, finance and contract matters  17kb
• Chapter 15 – Review and revision of the Constitution  15kb
• Chapter 16 - Interpreting the Constitution  14kb

Part 2 - Responsibility for functions

• Chapter 1 - Allocation of Functions of the County Council  18kb
• Chapter 2 - Responsibility for Non-Executive Functions delegated to Committees and allocation of Local Choice Functions  37kb  
• Chapter 3 - Executive Functions  26kb
• Chapter 4 - Delegations to Chief Officers  31kb
• Chapter 5 - Scrutiny Select (Overview and Scrutiny) Committees and Health (Overview and Scrutiny) Committee  33kb

Part 3 - Rules of procedure

• Chapter 1 - County Council Standing Orders  137kb
• Chapter 2 - Executive Procedures and Role of the Executive  34kb
• Chapter 3 - Scrutiny Procedures  56kb
• Chapter 4 - Access to Information Procedure Rules  27kb
• Chapter 5 - Financial Regulations  79kb
• Chapter 6 - Contract Standing Orders  76kb

Part 4 - Codes and protocols

• Appendix A - Code of Conduct for Members  49kb
• Appendix B - Officers Code of Conduct  27kb
• Appendix C - Protocol for Member/Officer Relations  47kb
• Appendix D - Members’ Allowances Scheme  63kb
  • Members' Allowances 2010/2011  152kb
  • Members' Allowances 2009/2010  124kb
  • Members Allowances 2008/2009  265kb

Index  37kb