Constitution of Purbeck District Council

The constitution is divided into 12 articles which set out the basic rules governing the council's business. More detailed procedures and codes of practice are provided in separate rules and protocols at the end of the document.

Version no. 54 of the constitution, issued on 23 November 2018, is available to download below.

Index

Part 1 - Summary and explanation

Part 2 - Articles of the constitution

• Article 1 - The constitution

• Article 2 - Councillors

• Article 3 - The public and the council

• Article 4 - The full council

• Article 5 - Chairing the council

• Article 6 - Policy, regulatory and other meetings

• Article 7 - Arrangements for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct

• Article 8 - Area committees and forums

• Article 9 - Joint arrangements

• Article 10- Officers of the council

• Article 11 - Decision making

• Article 12 - Finance, contracts and legal matters

Part 3 - Scheme of delegation - who has the power to make decisions

• Introduction and general provisions applying to all delegations

• Delegation to committees and sub-committees 

• Delegation to joint committees

• Advisory, steering and working groups

• Delegation to officers

Part 4 - Rules of procedure

• Council meeting procedure rules

• Financial procedure rules

• Contractual procedure rules

• Access to information procedure rules

• Officer employment procedure rules

Part 5 - Codes of conduct and protocols - Items 1-5 and Items 6-13

1. Code of conduct for councillors and co-opted members
2. Protocol on declarations of interest 
3. Code of practice for councillors and officers on planning procedures 
4. Code of practice for councillors on gifts and hospitality 
5. Procedures for local assessments of complaints about councillors' conduct 
6. Monitoring officer's protocol 
7. Officers' code of conduct 
8. Protocol on the relationship between councillors and officers 
9. Local code of corporate governance 
10. Freedom of Information Act 2000 - guidance for councillors 
11. Anti-fraud and corruption strategy 
12. Publicity protocol for complaints to Standards Committee 
13. Policy and protocol on recording, photography and use of social media at meetings of the council

Part 6 - Members' scheme of allowances

Part 7 - Management Structure

Part 8 - Other useful information

(Part 8 contains useful information which may change frequently and which is ancillary to the constitution)

• members' roles descriptions

• glossary

• abbreviations & acronyms

• contact list