Issue - meetings

Report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance reviewing and updating the Council’s Constitution, attached.

With the consent of the meeting, Councillor Barnes-Andrews, Chair of the Governance Committee, altered and moved the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the annual review of the Council’s Constitution and Councillor Letts seconded:

Add additional recommendation (iv)

“that Financial Procedure Rules be amended to exempt real property transactions from the value thresholds determining the level of decision making, and that Article 12 of the Constitution be amended to exclude property transactions from the definition of ‘significant budgetary impact’ that determines whether or not a matter be treated as a Key Decision”.

Amendment moved by Councillor Moulton and seconded by Councillor Fitzhenry:

“Aldermen

·  Strike out requirement for Alderman to submit notice of their intention to speak

·  Strike out limit of 15 minutes total speaking time during a meeting.

·  Leave proposed limit of 5 minutes per item.

Increasing Involvement of the public

·  Council asks that the Governance Committee considers further how to appropriately strengthen public engagement at council meetings, asking for them to seek views of Members and to report back to Full Council in September with any proposed changes.

Confidentiality rules

·  Council asks that the Governance Committee considers how best to ensure that confidential items and information given to officers and members is not disclosed to the public and to consider further appropriate sanctions that might be put in place where a breach of confidentiality occurs and that it considers the measures taken to investigate any alleged breach of confidentiality. Governance to report back to Full Council in September with any proposed changes.

Use of Council Resources

·  That during a period of purdah, that Members of the council not be allowed to issue council funded bulk letter mailings to residents / voters.

Key Decisions and Property

·  All Members should be advised of Key property decisions and Group Leaders, Chair and Vice Chair of OSMC be sent a formal briefing note ahead of any key property decision”.

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE ALTERATION MOVED BY COUNCILLOR BARNES-ANDREWS WAS DECLARED CARRIED

UPON BEING PUT TO THE VOTE THE AMENDMENT IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MOULTON WAS DECLARED LOST

RESOLVED:

(i)  that the changes to the Constitution and associated arrangements as set out in the report be approved;

(ii)  that the Service Director: Legal & Governance be authorised to finalise the arrangements as approved by Full Council and make any further consequential or minor changes arising from the decision of Council;

(iii)  that the City Council’s Constitution, as amended be approved, including the Officer Scheme of Delegation for the municipal year 2016/17; and

(iv)  that Financial Procedure Rules be amended to exempt real property transactions from the value thresholds determining the level of decision making, and that Article 12 of the Constitution be amended to exclude property transactions from the definition of ‘significant budgetary impact’ that determines whether or not a matter be treated as a Key Decision.

Report of the Service Director: Legal and Governance reviewing and updating the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director Legal and Governance detailing the annual review of the Constitution.  The Committee noted that proposed changes included revisions to the Officer Scheme of Delegation, the addition of a Council Procedure Rule in relation to Honorary Alderman, minor practical revisions to the Civic and Ceremonial Protocol and an addition to the Access to Information Procedure Rules.

RESOLVED that the proposed changes be recommended to Council for adoption.