Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services seeking approval to:

(a)       Amendments to the procedure for dealing with Opposition Priority Business;

(b)       A revised and updated Member/Officer Protocol; and

(c)       To the provision of substitute members on the Councillor Conduct Committee

(Report No.176)

Members are asked to note that the amendments to the procedure for dealing with Opposition Priority Business and Member/Officer Protocol were considered and approved for recommendation on to Council by the Members & Democratic Services Group on 13 January 2014.  Subject to approval by Council, the amendments will come into immediate effect.

The provision of substitute members on the Councillor Conduct Committee has been agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee (3 December 2013).

Councillor Simon moved and Councillor Brett seconded a report from the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services (No.176) seeking approval to a number of separate amendments to the Constitution.

NOTED that

1.         The amendments had been recommended following a review of the Procedure Rules relating to Opposition Priority Business & Protocol for Member/Officer relations by the Members & Democratic Services Group (13 January 14) and membership requirements for the Councillor Conduct Committee.

2.         The amendments to the Procedure Rules for Opposition Priority Business (OPB) had been designed to clarify the requirements in relation to the way that recommendations arising from OPB were presented and considered.

3.         The amendments to the Protocol for Member/Officer relations had been designed to reflect recent legislative changes and to update the protocol so that it remained as effective and clear as possible.  The protocol also included changes to the procedure for dealing with Super Part 2 reports at Cabinet and, where required, call-in meetings.

4.         The changes being sought to membership of the Councillor Conduct Committee had followed a review of the procedure for handling complaints undertaken by the Committee (3 December 13).  Given the non-political and balanced nature of the Committee members had recommended that the use of substitute members should be permitted in order to ensure that a political balance on the Committee could be maintained when members were unable to attend meetings.  The options considered in terms of when the use of substitute members would be permitted had been set out in section 3.3.4 of the report.

5.         Whilst the Opposition Group had expressed a preference for substitutes to only be permitted when members of the Committee were unable to participate in meetings or hearings as a result of a disclosable interest, they felt that the proposal within the report was acceptable as a way forward.

6.         The need identified to ensure that all substitute members received training in advance of being able to participate in meetings of the Councillor Conduct Committee.

AGREED

(1)       The amendments to the procedure for dealing with Opposition Priority Business, as detailed within the section 3.1 and Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)       The updated version of the Protocol for Members/Officer relations as detailed within section 3.2 and Appendix 2 of the report.

(3)       The provision for substitute members (2 to be nominated by each Group) on the Councillor Conduct Committee (as detailed in section 3.3 of the report), with the use of substitutes permitted when an ordinary member of the Committee is unable attend a meeting due (a) to other commitments; or (b) as they have a disclosable interest.