Issue - meetings
Review of the Constitution
Meeting: 28/01/2016 - Democracy Committee (Item 31)
Additional documents:
- Constitution Review report - Appendix 2, item 31
PDF 52 KB
- Constitution Review report Appendix 3, item 31
PDF 225 KB
Minutes:
The Committee was reminded that the Council adopted the committee style of Governance on 23 May 2015 along with a new Constitution to support it.
When the new Constitution was adopted, it was envisaged that the Council would review its operation and effectiveness early in 2016, after it had been in use for several months. It was pointed out that the review was intended to correct inconsistencies and not make major changes in the governance processes.
Councillor Mrs Wilson addressed the Committee as a visiting member.
The Committee heard that feedback from Members and Officers was sought prior to the report being written. This feedback was included with the report at Appendix A. Some of the feedback received would involve major changes, such as political makeup of Committees, the number of members on Committees and additional committees, and it was suggested these would not form part of this review as the system had not been in place long enough to justify such major changes.
The Committee was advised that minor changes to the Constitution would be small changes the Monitoring Officer could make, such as clarity of issues. It would be for the Committee to decide what represented a major change, which would have to be referred to Council for the final decision.
The Committee considered the make-up of the working party and agreed Committee Members, Substitute Members and Leaders of the two unrepresented Political groups, Ukip and Labour, would be invited to join the working group meeting.
The brief of the working group would be a review of identified anomalies in procedures.
RESOLVED:
That the Committee:
1. Agree to carry out a review of the Constitution.
2. Agree to set up a working party of the Committee, Substitutes and Leaders of the two Political groups not represented on the Committee, to undertake the review.
3. Agree that the working party will report back to the Democracy Committee on 17 March 2016 with its recommendations on any amendments to the Constitution.
Voting: For – 9