Issue - meetings

To consider the report of Simon Goacher, Independent Legal Advisor on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of Simon Goacher (Independent Legal Advisor) on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, as contained on pages 1085 to 1094 of the Book of Reports, which set out draft terms of reference for service committees for consideration, as a basis for stakeholder consultation.

Mr Goacher was present to answer any questions.

The Leader advised that although the subject matter fell within the remit of her relevant Portfolio, she did not support the recommendations in the report.   

A Motion circulated prior to the meeting was moved and seconded.

An Amendment was moved and seconded, displayed on the screens and circulated to Members by email.

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The meeting adjourned for 15 minutes for Members to consider the Amendment.

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The Motion, circulated prior to the meeting, was WITHDRAWN, therefore the Amendment FELL.

A further Motion was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken, the Further Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the draft terms of reference be rejected as the proposed Service/Policy Committees do not reflect the work of the council and the following range of committees, in addition to the statutory requirements, be used as a basis for stakeholder and public consultation:

·       HR and People Services

·       Economic Regeneration and Investment

·       Health and Wellbeing

·       Leisure

·       Tourism and Events

·       Housing

·       Communities

·       Community Safety

·       Planning Policy (ex statutory planning committee items)

·       Street Scene

·       Green Initiatives

·       Finance

B.     That in the absence of the Political Governance Arrangements Working Group being able to provide a clear cost forecast for the project that all future reports from this Working Group include:

(i) a cumulative running total of the number of hours that officers have worked on the project beginning April 2022 including briefings, training and all other work.

(ii) a detailed listing of all direct expenditure incurred on the project commencing April 2022 including consultancy.

To consider the draft report for Council on 5 April 2023 of Simon Goacher (Independent Legal Adviser) on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer.

Members were presented with the draft report of Simon Goacher (Independent Legal Adviser) on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, regarding the Change of Governance Arrangements Draft Terms of Reference, which will be submitted to Council on 5 April 2023.

The Legal and Democratic Services Manager explained the project which has been implemented to carry out the changes and structures required to facilitate the Change in Governance arrangements, from a Leader/Cabinet System to a Committee System, which the Council have agreed to commence May 2024.

The impact that the change of Governance arrangements was likely to have on Standards Committee was not known at present, but the information presented to Standards Committee was to make Members aware of the future Governance Terms of Reference, ahead of being submitted to Council, and updates would be provided in future.

Members were advised that a Training Session will be provided for All Members of the Council to attend, where Ed Hammond from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), will be explaining what it feels like to work under a Committee System.

It was noted the positive support other Authorities have provided during the project to date.

RESOLVED: That the Change of Governance Arrangements Draft Terms Of

Reference be noted.