Council Constitution

The Constitution has the important purpose of providing a guide for local people, businesses and other organisations to understand how the council's decision-making works. It is also a handbook for councillors and staff directly involved in the council's business. It has been formally approved by the council and will be kept under review and updated from time to time.

The governance model plan (pdf format, 526Kb) shows how governance at Oxfordshire County Council works, subject to the provisions of the Constitution

The Constitution (pdf format, 2.4 MB) can be viewed in its entirety or in individual parts below.

Constitution contents

• Contents (pdf format, 99 KB)

Part 1 - Introduction

1.1  The Constitution (2 February 2026)
1.2  How OCC Operates (30 June 2026)
1.3  Decision Making (30 June 2026)

Part 2 - Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (October 2022) (pdf format, 345 KB)

Part 3 - Council

3.1 Council Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)
3.2 Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules (30 April 2024)
3.3 Virement Rules (30 June 2026)
3.4 "Local Choice" Functions (9 December 2014)
3.5 Agency, Partnership and Joint Agreements (21 May 2024)

Part 4 - Cabinet

4.1 Membership of Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet (30 June 2026)
4.2 Cabinet Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)
4.3 Cabinet Committees (30 June 2026)

• Part 4.3 - Appendix A - Oxfordshire Shareholder Committee Terms of Reference (30 June 2026)

4.4 Delegated Decisions by Individual Cabinet Members (1 April 2025)
4.5 Cabinet Advisory Groups (10 April 2024)

Part 5 - Committees and sub-committees

5.1A  Membership of Committees and Sub-Committees (30 June 2026)
5.1B Health and Wellbeing board (1 April 2025)
5.1C Remuneration Committee (30 June 2026)
5.1D  Membership of Other Committees (30 June 2026)

Part 6 - Overview and scrutiny committees

6.1A Overview and Scrutiny Committees (30 June 2026)
6.1B Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (2 February 2026)
6.1C Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Berkshire West Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 April 2025)
6.2 Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (2 February 2026)

Part 7 - Scheme of delegation to officers

7.1 Officers (30 June 2026)
7.2 Scheme of Delegation to Officers (30 June 2026)

Part 8 - Other procedure rules

8.1 Access to Information Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)
8.2 Financial Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)

• Section 01 - Financial regulations - introduction (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 135 KB)
• Section 02 - Financial roles and responsibility (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 208 KB)
• Section 03 - Financial planning (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 194KB)
• Section 04 - Financial management (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 216 KB)
• Section 05 - Capital (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 260 KB)
• Section 06 - Accounting records and financial systems (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 128 KB)
• Section 07 - Risk management and internal control (pdf format, 256 KB)
• Section 08 - Control of resources (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 297 KB)
• Section 09 - Income and expenditure (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 267 KB)
• Section 10 - External arrangements (30 June 2026) (pdf format, 214 KB)

8.3 Contract Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)
8.4 Officer Employment Procedure Rules (30 June 2026)

• Annex 1 (30 June 2026) – Procedure to be Complied with in Respect of Dismissal of Senior Officers
• Annex 2 (2 February 2026) – Protocol for Employees Working Part-time and/or Temporarily for, or providing Consultancy to, other Bodies or Councils
• Annex 3 (30 June 2026) – Senior Posts and Proposed Appointor

8.5 Members Champion Role Guidance Notes (9 December 2025)

Part 9 - Codes and protocols

9.1 Members' Code of Conduct (including general principles) (2 February 2026)

• Appendix A (5 April 2022) – The Seven Principles of Public Life
• Appendix B (5 April 2022) – Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
• Appendix C (5 April 2022) – Disclosure of Other Registrable Interests

9.2 Protocol on Members' Rights and Responsibilities (30 June 2026)
9.3 Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) – Guidance for Members(2 February 2026)
9.4 Members’ Planning Code of Practice (30 June 20206)
9.5 Protocol on Member/Officer Relations (30 June 2026)
9.6 Officers' code of conduct (24 March 2026)
9.7 Protocol on Consultation with Employees (24 March 2026)

Part 10 - Members’ allowances

10.1 Members’ Allowances (9 December 2025)