1.01 Powers of the Council
The Council will exercise all its powers and duties in accordance with the law and this Constitution.
1.02 The Constitution
This Constitution, and all its parts as listed on the contents page, is the Constitution of the North Yorkshire Council.
1.03 Purpose of the Constitution
The purpose of the Constitution is to provide a framework which will:
(a) enable the Council to provide clear leadership to the community in partnership with citizens, businesses and other organisations;
(b) support the active involvement of citizens in the process of local authority decision-making;
(c) help Councillors represent their constituents effectively;
(d) enable decisions to be taken efficiently and effectively;
(e) create a powerful and effective means of holding decision-makers to public account;
(f) ensure that no one will review or scrutinise a decision in which they were directly involved;
(g) ensure that those responsible for decision making are clearly identifiable to local people and that they explain the reasons for decisions;
(h) provide a means of improving the delivery of services to the community; and
(i) ensure that the work of the Council promotes its vision and key ambitions:-
Our Vision
“Working for all our citizens and businesses, supporting our diverse communities and helping North Yorkshire to prosper.”
Our Goals:
· Understand our people, businesses and communities
· Deliver strong services that support their needs
· Provide leadership for our place
1.04 Interpretation and Review of the Constitution
Where the Constitution permits the Council to choose between different courses of action, the Council will always choose that option which it thinks is closest to the purposes stated above.
All decisions taken by or on behalf of the Council will:
¨ have regard to relevant facts and considerations, and disregard irrelevant ones;
¨ be reasonable, and proportionate to the subject matter;
¨ be taken with respect for equality of opportunity and human rights; and
¨ be taken in observance of the Codes of Conduct set out in Part 5 of this Constitution.
The Council will monitor and evaluate the operation of the Constitution as set out in Article 15.
For the avoidance of doubt, references within the Constitution to legislation (eg Act or Statutory Instrument) include reference to any amended, re-enacted or successor legislation.