Issue - meetings

The Director of Strategy Insight and Governance introduced the report and set out that during the review of the constitution last year it had been identified that further work was required to prepare for the reduction in Councillors from 55 to 49.  The report set out the Terms of reference and options for how to conduct the review, whether via a working group, the committee or by officers.

The Committee considered the options and debated whether conducting the review via a working group or through the committee would be most appropriate.  Whereas the previous review had been technical and detailed it was felt that this Governance Review would be at a high level and more about political choices in the structure and conducting it publicly through the Committee, which was politically balanced, would be preferable.  However, it was acknowledged that there would be technical consequences to choices made so the Committee also felt it appropriate to ensure that cross group briefings were available as part of the review.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The terms of reference for the review as set out at 3.1 in the report be agreed; and

2.  Option 1, Conduct the review through Democracy and General Purposes Committee Meetings, as set out in 3.2 in the report, along with a briefing for all Members, be agreed as the approach for conducting the review.