Issue - meetings

The Head of Policy, Communications and Governance introduced the report and explained that the access to information rules had been extensively rewritten with the proper officer function for ascertaining the need to know being changed from the Monitoring Officer to the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance. The next steps for the constitution would be submission to full Council for approval.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that the current process of implementing changes to the constitution would continue, whereby changes would be presented to the Committee and then ratified by full Council. It was clarified that an amendment could be made to 14.1.1 of C2 to include reference to neighbourhood forums.

The Monitoring Officer explained that the Committee was recommended to review the new constitution six months after its introduction.

RESOLVED: That

1.  Council be recommended to adopt the draft Constitution for Maidstone Borough Council at Appendix A, to come into effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 21 May 2022, subject to the amendment of part C2, 14.1.1 to reference neighbourhood forums;

2.  The Head of Policy, Communications and Governance in consultation with the Chair of Democracy and General Purposes be given delegated authority to add a guide to the constitution and make any minor amendments to the draft to correct errors, omissions or inconsistencies, prior to submitting the draft to Council; and

3.  The operation and effectiveness of the new Constitution be reviewed by the Committee six months after its introduction.

Note: Councillor Hastie joined the meeting during this item.