Agenda item

To consider proposed changes to the Constitution which has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of a Committee system and make a recommendation to Council.

The Head of Corporate Governance outlined her report on proposed revisions to the Council’s Constitution which were required to operate a Committee system of governance from the Annual Council in May 2021.

She explained that the Committee System Working Group had focussed on key changes to the Constitution to enable the Committee system to operate, including the structure of the committees and governance processes. Those policies and protocols able to operate as currently written, would come forward for revision in due course.

The Head of Corporate Governance confirmed that a ‘tracked changes’ version of the documents appended to her report had been provided to all councillors. She clarified some of the proposed changes at the request of members.

A member of the Committee suggested that limiting questions from members of the public and councillors to one each was too restrictive. The Committee agreed to recommend an amendment to Standing Orders in respect of questions from the public and councillors, to change the limit from one question to two questions.

Resolved to recommend Council:

1.    to agree the proposed amendments to the Constitution (as set out in Appendix B to the report) for adoption with a move to a Committee system of governance; and

2.    to agree to amend Sections 15.4 and 16.2 of Part 4a Council Standing Orders from a limit of one question to two questions.