Agenda item

To consider the most recent draft of the Council’s Constitutional documents.

(Constitutional documents attached)

Officers updated the Committee on changes that had been proposed to the Council’s Constitutional documents. The biggest single change was in the overall structure of the Constitutional documents, with a move towards a format that would be easier for Members and Officers to use. It was noted that the proposed changes had been the subject of a number of informal meetings with key Members, with the most significant issues being reported back to the Groups as appropriate.

The main issues that were raised were as follows:

Part 2, Paragraph 6.2 – there was discussion as to whether the Chair and Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be EITHER not from the controlling group OR from the opposition group;

Part 2, Paragraph 8.4 – there was discussion as to whether the qualifications for sitting on Regulatory and other Committees were appropriate;

Part 3, Table 2, page 2 – it was suggested that the special provisions as to the Chair be amended to make it mandatory rather than desirable that this be an “Opposition” Member. Members agreed that this change be recommended for incorporation into the final document;

Part 4, Paragraph 9.5 – it was highlighted by Officers that these provisions (Questions which may not be asked) were designed to avoid the debate of issues that were not relevant to the Council; and

 Part 6, Paragraph 5 – it was noted that the Leader of the Opposition was not referred to in the Urgent Decisions provisions. Members agreed that this change, with the Leader of the Opposition being consulted, be recommended for incorporation into the final document.

From a more general perspective, there was concern that local residents had little knowledge or understanding of the Council’s Constitutional arrangements, despite the inclusion of a section in Part 2 on Citizens and the Council.

RESOLVED that

subject to Members’ comments, above, and subsequent adjustments, the draft document be noted.