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The Council's Constitution

Our constitution sets out how the council operates, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed to make sure 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 parts which set out the basic principles governing the council's business.

Part 1 of the constitution commits the council to protect and enhance the quality of life of the citizens and communities of the Forest of Dean, and sets out six key aims for achieving this. It explains the following:

  • the purpose of the constitution and how they relate to these aims
  • how disputes about the interpretation of the constitution may be resolved
  • how the constitution should be kept under review.
Forest of Dean District Council Constitution

How the council operates

The council is made up of 38 Councillors. Councillors are democratically accountable to residents of their ward but their overriding duty is to the whole community.

Councillors have to follow a code of conduct to make sure they carry out their duties to a high standard. It is the responsibility of the Monitoring Officer and the Standards Committee to uphold these standards.

All councillors meet as the council usually five or six times a year. Meetings of the council are normally open to the public. Here councillors decide the council's overall policies and set the budget each year. The council:

  • is responsible for appointing the Leader and committees of the council
  • is responsible for holding the executive and the committees to account for the decisions they take
  • may ask the executive to reconsider a decision.

Members of the public may address the council, the executive and committees in line with the scheme for public participation in council and committee meetings.