Issue - meetings

The report summarises the issues considered by the Constitution Review Working Group and sets out a series of recommendations arising from the Working Group for consideration by the Committee.

Any recommendations arising from the Committee shall be referred to full Council for adoption.

The Head of Democratic Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report summarised the issues considered by the Constitution Review Working Group which met over recent months and it was explained that recommendations arising from the Audit and Governance Committee would be referred to full Council for adoption. The Committee received an update of progress generally on the ongoing Constitutional review.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

Code of Conduct for Councillors – Process for consideration of complaints

(a) That the revised arrangements for the consideration of complaints submitted in accordance with the Council Code of Conduct, including a process of filtering complaints by the Monitoring Officer, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Audit and Governance Committee, be approved and that the whole process be set out within the Constitution.

Procedural – Public Statements to Committees

(b) That the current 100 word limit on public Statements be retained.

Welfare payments for Councillors

(c) That the current Member Allowances be retained, confirming no provision for sick pay or maternity pay for Councillors, but that availability of the BCP Council Employment Assistance Programme be advertised more actively to entitled Councillors.

Covid-19 Response Period – Constitution Article 15

(d)  That the revised Article 15 (Covid-19 Response Period Decision Making Arrangements), as set out at Appendix 2 to the report of the Audit and Governance Committee and the protocol set out at Appendix 3 to the report of the Audit and Governance Committee, be approved and that a new Procedure Rule 40 and associated appendix be established which reads “40. Protocol for the establishment and running of virtual meetings during the Covid-19 Response Period. The protocol is set out in Appendix 7”

RESOLVED

Councillor involvement through the Appeals Committee in hearing appeals by staff against dismissal.

That consideration of the issue of Councillor involvement in Staff Appeal hearings be deferred whilst the separate process of harmonisation of terms and conditions of staff is underway.

Voting: Unanimous