Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor McKay, that the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately.

Amendment moved by Councillor Paine:

That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately and the following additional amendment:

That the ‘Leader of the Council’ role should be renamed ‘Council Spokesperson’, and that this duty (which is described as non-executive in the Constitution) should fall to the Mayor as a politically neutral figure in the chamber.

The amendment was not seconded.

Amendment moved by Councillor Paine, seconded by Councillor Mrs Blackmore:

That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately and the following additional amendment:

Committee chairs should be elected by secret ballot, to reduce the influence of party whips in the voting process.

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor Paine, seconded by Councillor

J. A Wilson:

That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately and the following additional amendment:

Part 3.1, paragraph 29 (5) - Review of Service Committee Decisions - Delete text and replace with:

The Policy and Resources Committee shall consider the matter; decide to recommend endorsement of the original Committee’s decision; or may recommend a different decision.  The recommendation of the Policy and Resources Committee will be referred to either the original Service Committee or to full Council.

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor McLoughlin, seconded by Councillor Black:

That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately and the following additional amendment:

Part 3.1, paragraph 9 - Quorum

Amend to the effect that the quorum of a meeting of a Committee will be 75% of the whole number of Councillors.

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor Ross, seconded by Councillor Mrs Blackmore:

That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately and the following additional amendment:

Part 3.1, paragraph 9 - Quorum

Amend to the effect that the quorum of a meeting of a Committee will be 50% of the whole number of Councillors.

AMENDMENT LOST

The original motion was then put to the vote.

RESOLVED:  That the new Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council, circulated separately, be adopted to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 23 May 2015 subject to the amendments circulated separately (and attached as Appendices to these Minutes).

Note:  Councillor Garland entered the meeting during consideration of this item.