Maidstone Borough Council

Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Monday 15 September 2014

Call-In: Equality Objective Update 2013/14

Report of: Head of Policy of Communications

1.           Background

1.1.      Councillor Clive English and Councillor Fran Wilson have called-in the decision of the Leader of the Council with regard to the Equality Objective Update 2013/14.

1.2.      In order to assist Members in their consideration of this issue the following documents have been attached to this agenda:

1.3.   Cllr Annabelle Blackmore, Leader of the Council, Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy and Communications, and Clare Wood, Policy and Performance Officer, have been invited as witnesses to the meeting.

2.           Recommendation

2.1.      The reason for calling-in the Leader of the Council’s decision is stated as:

“The narrow focus of the objectives, which do not fully meet the requirements of the 2010 Act.”

2.2.      The Committee is recommended to consider the decision of the Leader of the Council against the above reason. 

2.3.      Having considered the call-in the Committee has three options for action     with regard to the decision:

                   i.    Take no action – the decision will be implemented as taken by the Leader of the Council on 29 August 2014.

                 ii.    Refer to the Leader of the Council – the comments and any recommendations from the Committee will be referred to the Leader of the Council for reconsideration of the decision within five working days, after which a final decision will be made.

                iii.    Refer to Council – the comments of the Committee and decision of the Leader of the Council will be referred to Council.  If Council does not object to the Leader of the Council’s decision it will be implemented.  If Council does object, it does not have power to make a decision unless the Leader of the Council’s decision is against the policy framework or contrary to or inconsistent with the budget.  Unless that is the case, Council will refer its comments back to the Leader of the Council for reconsideration of the decision within five working days, after which a final decision will be made.

2.4.   Councillors may also choose to take no action on the decision itself (i.e. allowing it to be implemented as taken) but request further information or clarification on issues raised during the call-in.  This information must be provided within one month, as is the case with ordinary requests and recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny.

3.           Impact on Corporate Objectives

3.1    The Committee will need to take into account the Council’s Corporate Priorities when considering the decision and call-in.