Agenda and minutes

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4) which proposed changes to the Council, Executive and Contract Rules of Procedure in light of legislative changes following a review by the Finance and Governance Group. 

The Committee was informed that a timetable had now been established for the Finance and Governance Group to review individual sections of the Constitution and a number of Officers had been involved in revising specific parts of the Constitution. This report proposed amendments to Parts 4, 5, 11 and 13 of the Constitution. The main changes proposed were:

Part 4 - Council Rules of Procedure

Andy Day reported that it was proposed that an amendment to the Council’s Rules of Procedure (Paragraph 4.13.7) which dealt with substantive amendments to the Council’s annual budget be made to require that any substantive amendments should be submitted to the Council’s Section 151 Officer at least three clear days before the meeting.

During the course of considering this issue it was agreed to make a small number of changes to the wording.  The final wording of the amendment would be as follows:

“Any amendments considered to be substantive by the Section 151 Officer in relation to in year reports or motions which have a financial implication shall be the subject of discussions with and receive the approval of the Section 151 Officer in advance of the meeting to ensure that the amendment does not compromise the Council’s financial position. In relation to the budget meeting, any substantive amendments proposed to the budget shall be submitted to the Council’s Section 151 Officer at least three working days before the meeting”.

In answer to a question from a Member, Andy Day confirmed that any substantive amendments proposed and which were subject to the three day rule would not mean that, if approved by the Section 151 Officer, that the amendment had to be released publicly.  The Committee noted that it was standard practice for officers in Strategic Support to try and reach agreement between the two Groups to distribute any proposed amendments in advance of any meeting so as to assist with the overall “management” of the Council meeting.  This practice would still continue.

Andy Day reported that concern had been raised at the Planning Policy Task Group about Members sitting on Area Planning Committees without having attended appropriate training.  It had been suggested that an amendment to Part 13 Appendix A (Code of Conduct for Planning) be made to align the training requirements for Members sitting on Planning and Licensing Committees with those of the Licensing Committee.  This would effectively mean that Members not attending appropriate training would not be able to sit on Planning Committees and make formal decisions until they had completed the training.

In relation to recommendation 3 on the front cover of the report, it was agreed to amend this to read as follows:

“That the Council’s Code of Conduct for Planning be amended to require all Members of Planning Committees (including substitutes) to receive appropriate training  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.