Constitution

Please click on the appropriate link below to view the document. Please note that all these documents are in Adobe Acrobat pdf format and by necessity quite large.

The Dartford Borough Council's Constitution PDF, 405.1 KB

The Constitution 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 to local people. Some of these processes are required by the law, while others are a matter for the Council to choose. The Constitution is divided into 16 Articles and eight parts which set out how the Council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures to be followed (see below) to ensure transparency and accountability to local people.

PART 1 - Summary & Explanation (see pages 6 -17 of the Constitution) PDF, 405.1 KB

PART 2 - Articles of the Constitution (see pages 18 - 67 of the Constitution PDF, 405.1 KB )

PART 3 - Committees, Delegations, Commitee Procedures/Protocols

• Responsibility for Functions  PDF, 210.36 KB
• Terms of Reference (for Committees)  PDF, 600.57 KB
• Scheme of Delegations to Officers PDF, 458.85 KB
• Cabinet Portfolios PDF, 79.55 KB
• Rules of Substitution PDF, 23.63 KB
• Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Committee Protocol PDF, 278.39 KB
• Policy Overview Committee Protocol (Overview/Review Function) PDF, 250.36 KB
• Scrutiny Committee Protocol (Scrutiny Function) PDF, 286.43 KB
• Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure PDF, 233.74 KB
• Development Control Board Public Speaking Protocol PDF, 73.52 KB
• Site Visit Procedure for Development Control Board PDF, 132.5 KB
• Deed,Trust and Obligations Committee - Conflicts of Interest Policy 
• Recording, Filming, Photographing & Broadcasting Council MeetingsPDF, 178.59 KB

PART 4 - Standing Orders, Financial Regulations

• Standing Orders (Procedural) PDF, 744.46 KB
• Financial Regulations PDF, 643.55 KB

PART 5 - Member Code of Conduct, Arrangements (for dealing with alleged Code breaches), Member Protocols etc

• [Member] Code of Conduct PDF, 70.53 KB
• Arrangements for dealing with complaints against Members PDF, 146.33 KB
• Member/Officer Relations' Protocol PDF, 197.95 KB
• Member/Officer Relations' FAQs PDF, 138.75 KB
• Gifts, Benefits & Hospitality PDF, 214.59 KB
• Gifts, Benefits & Hospitality FAQs PDF, 180.66 KB
• Probity in Planning Protocol PDF, 446.3 KB
• Probity in Licensing Protocol PDF, 353.67 KB
• Use of Council Facilities & Resources by Councillors PDF, 142.61 KB
• Use of Council Facilities & Resources by Councillors FAQs PDF, 137.59 KB
• Outside Bodies PDF, 181.23 KB
• Protocol on Release of Confidential Information PDF, 198.64 KB
• Protocol on Release of Confidential Information FAQs PDF, 143.54 KB
• Dual-hatted Members' FAQs PDF, 137.68 KB
• Lobbying FAQs PDF, 114.26 KB
• Predisposition, Predetermination and Bias FAQs PDF, 202.49 KB

PART 6 -  Employees, Management/Staffing Structure, Joint Working/Partnerships

• Employee Code of Conduct PDF, 98.49 KB
• Management Structure 
• Politically Restricted Posts PDF, 241.66 KB
• Joint Working - Partnerships PDF, 412.17 KB
• MoU with Dartford and Gravesham Community Safety Partnership PDF, 226.01 KB

PART  7 - Members' Allowances, Indemnities

• Members' Allowances Scheme PDF, 187.8 KB
• Indemnities for Members and Officers PDF, 131.99 KB

PART 8 - Probity, Propriety

• Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy PDF, 223.58 KB
• Whistleblowing Policy PDF, 237.43 KB
• Disposal of Council owned land PDF, 319.8 KB

OTHER

• RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers) Policy Statement PDF, 446.33 KB
• Data Protection

Please address any enquiries relating to items on this page to:

Head of Legal Services
Dartford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Home Gardens
Dartford
Kent DA1 1DR

DX 142726 DARTFORD 7

Tel: 01322 343634
Online: Contact Legal Services

• Petitions Procedure

  (minimum fifteen (15) valid qualifying signatures) - Petitions which are referred to an Officer for action/decision under delegated authority or to the Cabinet, relevant Committee, Board etc. Petitions exclude support for or opposition to planning and licensing applications

• Member Code of Conduct and Interests' Registers

  On 16 July 2012, Dartford Borough Council adopted a Code of Conduct which describes how Councillors and [voting] Co-opted Members on committees of the Council should conduct themselves. Parish/Town Councils in the Borough of Dartford must also adopt a code of conduct.