To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To consider a report on implementing a Committee System model of governance to take effect from the Annual Council Meeting on the 27 May 2021.

The Council considered a report from the Group Head of Corporate Governance on a change to a Committee System of Governance. She outlined the background to the change in governance arrangements, the proposed Committee structure, the role of the Leader and Deputy Leader and the transitional arrangements.

It was moved by Councillor H. Harvey and seconded by Councillor O. Rybinski that the Council resolves to:

1.    cease operating the existing Leader and Cabinet form of governance and implement a Committee System model of governance to take effect from the Annual Council Meeting on the 27 May 2021;

2.    adopt the transitional arrangements as set out in this report; and

3.    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to make the necessary changes to those parts of the Constitution not presented in the recommendations from the Member’s Code of Conduct Committee, in respect of references to the Cabinet to the relevant Committee and from the Leader and Deputy to the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair as appropriate.

Councillor I.T.E. Harvey called for a recorded vote on the motion.

The voting was as follows:

FOR (34)

J.R. Boughtflower, M.M. Attewell, C. Barnard, C. Barratt, R.O. Barratt, C. Bateson, I.J. Beardsmore, S. Buttar, R. Chandler, J.H. Doerfel, J.T. Doran, S.M. Doran, R.D. Dunn, S.A. Dunn, T. Fidler, M. Gibson, K. Grant, A.C. Harman, H. Harvey, N. Islam, T. Lagden, V.J. Leighton, M.J. Madams, A.J. Mitchell, L.E. Nichols, R. Noble, O. Rybinski, D. Saliagopoulos, J.R. Sexton, R.W. Sider, V. Siva, R.A. Smith-Ainsley, B.B. Spoor, J. Vinson.

ABSTAIN (2)

A. Brar, I.T.E. Harvey

The motion was carried.

Resolved to:

1.    cease operating the existing Leader and Cabinet form of governance and implement a Committee System model of governance to take effect from the Annual Council Meeting on the 27 May 2021;

2.    adopt the transitional arrangements as set out in this report; and

3.    authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to make the necessary changes to those parts of the Constitution not presented in the recommendations from the Member’s Code of Conduct Committee, in respect of references to the Cabinet to the relevant Committee and from the Leader and Deputy to the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair as appropriate.

To consider the recommendation from the Members Code of Conduct Committee from its meeting held on 17 March 2021, on the adoption of proposed changes to the Constitution required to operate a Committee System.

The Council considered a recommendation from the Members’ Code of Conduct Committee on changes to the Constitution required to operate a Committee System of governance.

It was moved by Councillor J.R. Boughtflower and seconded by Councillor M.M. Attewell that the Council:

1.         agreesthe proposed amendments to the Constitution (as appended to the report dated 17 March 2021) for adoption with a move to a Committee system of governance; and

2.         agrees to amend Sections 13.4 and 14.2 of Part 4a Council Standing Orders from a limit of one question to two questions.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J.H. Doerfel and seconded by Councillor I.J. Beardsmore to add the following words (shown by italics) to part 1. of the Motion and to delete Part 2.

“That the Council agrees the proposed amendments to the Constitution (as appended to the report dated 17 March 2021) for adoption with a move to a Committee system of governance, with the exception of any proposed changes to the current Sections 14 and 15 of Council Standing Orders relating to public and councillor questions.”

The amendment was voted upon and carried.

Councillor N.J Gething joined the meeting.

An amendment was moved by Councillor A.J Mitchell and seconded by Councillor J.R. Boughtflower:

“That each Committee be limited in authority to grant expenditure to £1 million for any particular project without seeking approval from full Council. Any project must be taken as a whole and the project cannot be sub-divided into its constituent parts with each being authorised separately to avoid this limit set by this rule.”

The Monitoring Officer sought clarification on the wording of the amendment and advised that the appropriate place for such a rule to be included in the Constitution would be in Financial Regulations, which was not before the Council at this meeting.

Councillor Mitchell clarified that the expenditure referred to either capital or revenue. He requested that the amendment be voted upon and included in an appropriate place within the Constitution.

The amendment was voted upon and carried. The substantive motion was put to the vote.

Resolved to agree:

1.         the proposed amendments to the Constitution (as appended to the report dated 17 March 2021) for adoption with a move to a Committee system of governance, with the exception of any proposed changes to the current Sections 14 and 15 of Council Standing Orders relating to public and councillor questions; and

2.         that the following rule for the 5 Service Committees be included in an appropriate place within the Constitution:

Each Committee be limited in authority to grant expenditure to £1 million for any particular project without seeking approval from full Council. Any project must be taken as a whole and the project cannot be sub-divided into its constituent parts with each being authorised separately to avoid this limit set by this rule.

To consider a report on membership of the Asset Programme Board and a proposal for the Terms of the Reference of the Sub-Committee of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee, to take effect from the Annual Council meeting on 27 May 2021.

The Council considered the report of the Group Head of Corporate Governance on the membership of the Programme Board and terms of reference of the Development sub-Committee.

It was moved by Councillor J.R. Boughtflower and seconded by Councillor M.M Attewell that Council agrees:

1.    to extend the membership of the current Programme Board Cabinet Sub-Committee to include additional Councillors.

2.    to adopt the terms of reference for a Development Sub-Committee from the Annual Council Meeting as set out in the report.

Councillor I.J. Beardsmore announced that he would be withdrawing from membership of the Programme Board and proposed the following amendment to the terms of reference of the Development Sub-Committee, which was seconded by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley:

“That the membership of the Development Sub-Committee comprise 5 members appointed by the Policy and Resources Committee and 2 members appointed by the Environment and Sustainability Committee.”

The amendment was voted upon and carried. The substantive motion was put to the vote.

Resolved:

1.    to extend the membership of the current Programme Board Cabinet Sub-Committee to include additional Councillors; being Councillor L.E. Nichols and Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley.

2.    to adopt the terms of reference for a Development Sub-Committee from the Annual Council Meeting as set out in this report. subject to the membership comprising 5 members appointed by the Policy and Resources Committee and 2 members appointed by the Environment and Sustainability Committee.