The new Constitution for Somerset Council, the legal cornerstone of the new unitary council, has been
approved by Somerset County Council. The ten-part document – over 500 pages – sets out the Council’s
commitment to public participation in its meetings, makes sure that the council meets all its legal duties
and supports decision-making and governance.

The new Constitution sets out how the new council will operate, how it will make decisions and the steps that are to be followed to make sure the new authority’s decisions are efficient, transparent and accountable to local people.

Residents’ rights – from voting in elections, submitting petitions and attending council meetings to making a complaint or compliment, and inspecting the council’s accounts – are detailed in one section.

Key detail on public participation, the committee structure of the council and Local Community Networks is contained within the document that has been crafted over many months by the Council’s Constitution and Governance Committee. Details of planning and licensing committees, which are currently the responsibility of the county’s district councils, are also included in the document.

Cllr Theo Butt Philip, Chair of the Constitution and Governance Committee, said: “I am pleased with the constitution we have created for the new Somerset Council. When we set out to write this document, I said that I thought we needed to ensure the new council was as accessible, transparent and responsive as possible, and that every member of the council, every community in Somerset and every citizen was able to have their voice heard by the council and influence the decisions which impact upon their lives – I believe this new constitution does that.

“A focus has been placed on ensuring public participation and scrutiny throughout the decision making process within the council. I am confident that this provides a solid foundation from which the new Council can operate. This has been a concerted, cross-party effort and I would like to thank all members of the public who have participated in helping to shape this new constitution.”

Council Leader, Cllr Bill Revans, said: “This has been a mammoth task. It’s important to say that the
Constitution is not set in tablets of stone, nor is it an inflexible blueprint – it will be reviewed and updated
as we move forward. One of the most important sections of our new Constitution sets out very clearly how our residents can get involved with the council, whether that’s by coming to meetings and speaking, attend their Local Community Network, suggesting topics for our Scrutiny Committees or taking part in consultations on local issues like the annual budget.”

The new constitution details the roles and responsibilities of the 110 elected members, sets out the Code of Conduct and explains the roles and duties of the Chair, Leader and Executive. It sets out committee structures and procedures, including the planning and licensing and regulatory committees, how the 18 Local Community Networks (LCNs) will operate and the make-up of their membership, how delegated decision-making will work, as well as policies and protocols.

New committees and changes include:
• a Strategic Planning Committee and four area-based Planning Committees
• a statutory Licensing and Regulatory Committee and sub-committees
• 18 Local Community Networks
• 5 Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The Constitution’s ten principal sections were developed, debated and scrutinised by members of the
Constitution and Governance Committee throughout the past year. Best practice in other Somerset
councils was reviewed, as well as other recently established unitary authorities.

The official statement from SCC and further information is here.

The new Constitution for Somerset Council can be found here, and is item 6 Part A in the SCC Full Council meeting agenda reports here.

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