Proposed Revisions to Article 6 of the Council's Constitution

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

COUNCIL

 

23 JULY 2014

 

REPORT OF THE SCRUTINY COORDINATING COMMITTEE

 

 

Report prepared by Christian Scade

 

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ARTICLE 6 OF THE COUNCIL’S CONSTITUTION 

 

1.       Introduction

 

1.1        On 10 July 2014 the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee considered the terms of reference for the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

 

1.2        The Committee have recommended a number of revisions to Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution. These are set out in full at Appendix A.   

 

2.       Background

 

2.1     Terms of reference describe the purpose and structure of a committee.

 

2.2     Following feedback from Officers and Members, as part of the planning process for the first round of meetings, the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee reviewed Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution at their meeting on 10 July 2014. 

 

2.3     The proposed revisions have been put forward in view of recent changes including portfolio changes in relation to housing responsibilities and various restructures across the organisation.

 

2.4     An officer structure chart is attached at Appendix B for information (correct as of April 2014).

 

2.5    Proposed changes to the Constitution must be accompanied by an evaluation by the Council’s Monitoring Officer. The Monitoring Officer has reviewed the revisions at Appendix A and concludes that the changes will assist in meeting one of the purposes of the constitution –i.e. “creating a powerful and effective means of holding decision makers to public account “.   


3.       RECOMMENDED:

 

3.1    That:

 

(a)         The proposed revisions to Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution, set out in Appendix A, be approved.

 

(b)         The Community, Leisure Services and Environment OSC be renamed the Community, Environment and Housing OSC.      

         

4.       Relevant Documents

 

Appendix A – Article 6 – Overview and Scrutiny Committees

(Proposed Revisions)

 

Appendix B – MBC Organisation Structure

 

5.       Background Documents

 

          None