Wokingham Borough Council is undertaking a review of its constitution, which sets out how the council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to ensure that these are efficient, transparent and accountable.
It also sets out how residents, as well as the council’s partners and stakeholders, can influence decisions. Some of these processes are required by law, while others are discretionary and for the council to decide on.
The Constitution
The constitution is divided into 13 sections that set out the basic rules concerning our business, as well as more detailed procedures and codes of practice. It explains the rights of citizens and how the key parts of the council operate.
You can view the existing constitution on the Council’s website.
Wokingham Borough Council is using the following principles to conduct the review:
- The council is accountable to the public. It is essential that the public can understand the council’s constitution. The provisions of the constitution will be as simple as possible and written in plain English
- The council is a complex organisation. The constitution cannot set out every possible scenario. The provisions of the constitution will be as clear as possible but will need to be concise
- The council operates in challenging financial conditions and needs to ensure that it provides best value for taxpayers. It is important that processes are as efficient as possible. The provisions of the constitution will support processes that are efficient
- The council is a democratic institution. Accountability is essential. The provisions of the constitution will support openness, engagement, democratic control and accountability
