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  794kb

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  43kb

Part 1

• Chapter 1 – Outline  19kb
• Chapter 2 – Members of the Council  31kb
• Chapter 3 – Members of the public and the County Council  26kb
• Chapter 4 – The Role of the County Council  17kb
• Chapter 5 – Chairing of the County Council  6kb
• Chapter 6 – Arrangements to perform Regulatory Functions  13kb
• Chapter 7 – The Audit Committee  12kb
• Chapter 8 – The Standards Committee  11kb
• Chapter 9 – The Executive  20kb
• Chapter 10 – Area-based Committees and Panels  11kb
• Chapter 11 – Officers  33kb
• Chapter 12 – Select (Overview and Scrutiny) Committees and Health (Overview and Scrutiny) Committee  13kb
• Chapter 13 – Decision making  12kb
• Chapter 14 – Legal, finance and contract matters  12kb
• Chapter 15 – Review and revision of the Constitution  10kb
• Chapter 16 - Interpreting the Constitution  7kb

Part 2 - Responsibility for functions

• Chapter 1 - Allocation of Functions of the County Council  13kb
• Chapter 2 - Responsibility for Non-Executive Functions delegated to Committees and allocation of Local Choice Functions  39kb  
• Chapter 3 - Executive Functions  22kb
• Chapter 4 - Delegations to Chief Officers  30kb
• Chapter 5 - Scrutiny Select (Overview and Scrutiny) Committees and Health (Overview and Scrutiny) Committee  38kb

Part 3 - Rules of procedure

• Chapter 1 - County Council Standing Orders  152kb
• Chapter 2 - Executive Procedures and Role of the Executive  41kb
• Chapter 3 - Scrutiny Procedures  65kb
• Chapter 4 - Access to Information Procedure Rules  29kb
• Chapter 5 - Financial Regulations  98kb
• Chapter 6 - Contract Standing Orders  92kb

Part 4 - Codes and protocols

• Appendix A - Code of Conduct for Members  61kb
• Appendix B - Officers Code of Conduct  32kb
• Appendix C - Protocol for Member/Officer Relations  51kb
• Appendix D - Members’ Allowances Scheme  22kb
  • Members' Allowances 2012/2013  41kb
  • Members' Allowances 2011/2012  87kb
  • Members' Allowances 2010/2011  152kb
  • Members' Allowances 2009/2010  124kb
  • Members Allowances 2008/2009  265kb

Index  49kb