It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor Sherreard, that the recommendation of the Cabinet relating to the amendment of the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions be approved.

Councillor Parvin, the Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee, advised the Council that, in accordance with Article 15.02 (a) of the Constitution, the Standards Committee had evaluated the proposed amendments to the Executive Procedure Rules within the Constitution and believed that their implementation would help to ensure that the aims and principles of the Constitution were given full effect by creating an effective means of holding decision makers to public account.

RESOLVED:  That amendments be made to the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member and that paragraphs 2.6 (b) (ii) and 2.6 (b) (v) of the Executive Procedure Rules be amended from:-

2.6 (b) (ii)  Only petitions containing signatures of 100 persons of voting age will be eligible for submission to the Cabinet or Cabinet Member but the Leader or the Cabinet Member may at his discretion waive this requirement;

2.6 (b) (v)  Only one person may speak to the petition for a maximum of five minutes.  They should be of voting age, have signed the petition, and be an active supporter of the body submitting the petition but not acting for the petitioner in any professional capacity for financial reward;

To:

2.6 (b) (ii)   Only petitions containing signatures of 100 persons will be eligible for submission to the Cabinet or Cabinet Member but the Leader or the Cabinet Member may at his discretion waive this requirement;

2.6 (b) (v)  Only one person may speak to the petition for a maximum of five minutes.  They should have signed the petition and be an active supporter of the body submitting the petition but not acting for the petitioner in any professional capacity for financial reward;

The Committee was asked to evaluate suggested amendments to the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions to remove the age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member.  It was noted that at the Council meeting on 22 September 2010, it was agreed that the Council’s Petition Scheme should be amended so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to Council.  The amendment made by the Council to the Council Procedure Rules did not change the rules for the presentation of petitions to the Cabinet which are dealt with separately in the Executive Procedure Rules.  On being made aware of this anomaly the Cabinet determined that the changes should be made in order to have consistency across the Council.

The Committee supported the proposed amendments to the Executive Procedure Rules within the Constitution believing that their implementation would create an effective means of holding decision makers to public account.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the COUNCIL:  That it be noted that, in accordance with Article 15.02 (a) of the Constitution, the Standards Committee has evaluated the proposed amendments to the Executive Procedure Rules within the Constitution and believes that their implementation will help to ensure that the aims and principles of the Constitution are given full effect by creating an effective means of holding decision makers to public account.

The Cabinet considered an oral report of the Head of Democratic Services that the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions be amended so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member.

RECOMMENDED:

1.  That Council agree an amendment to the Executive Procedure Rules relating to petitions so that there is no age limit on who can sign a petition or present a petition to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Member.

2.  That Standards Committee evaluate the above recommendation and submit their comments to Council.