Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           in relation to Issue 1 (Article 4 – The Full Council) the proposed amendments to Part 2, Article 4 (The Full Council), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(b)          that the Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 25 February 2025 be designated as the Annual Budget Council Meeting and that an additional ordinary meeting of Council be scheduled for Tuesday, 11 February 2025 at 7.00pm;

(c)           in relation to Issue 2 (Part 3A Responsibility for Functions – Planning Committee) the proposed amendments to Part 3A (Responsibility for Functions), as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved, subject to the addition of the words ‘part or all of’ in section 2.3.7 (a) to read:

“in the opinion of the Councillor making the request, the application raises material planning issues that affect part or all of their ward or would affect the wider public interest that would warrant debate and consideration by a planning committee; and”

(e)           any necessary and consequential technical and formatting related updates and revisions to the Constitution be delegated to the Monitoring Officer.

Note – resolution (d) was a resolved matter by the Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, Councillor Marcus Andrews presented the report on the Review of the Council’s Constitution – Recommendations of the Constitution Review Working Group and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Councillor Kieron Wilson highlighted an omission in relation to Appendix 1, paragraph 4.3.2 whereby an additional item should be included prior to 6 to ‘agree the budget’.

In addition Councillor Wilson highlighted a grammatical error at Appendix 1, paragraph 4.3.2 point number 5(i) where it should read (i) Revenue budget (including dfees and charges…).

Council was advised that any grammatical errors would be picked up as set out in recommendation e.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          in relation to Issue 1 (Article 4 – The Full Council) the proposed amendments to Part 2, Article 4 (The Full Council), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(b)          that the Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 25 February 2025 be designated as the Annual Budget Council Meeting and that an additional ordinary meeting of Council be scheduled for Tuesday, 11 February 2025 at 7.00pm;

(c)          in relation to Issue 2 (Part 3A Responsibility for Functions – Planning Committee) the proposed amendments to Part 3A (Responsibility for Functions), as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved, subject to the addition of the words ‘part or all of’ in section 2.3.7 (a) to read:

(d)          “in the opinion of the Councillor making the request, the application raises material planning issues that affect part or all of their ward or would affect the wider public interest that would warrant debate and consideration by a planning committee; and”

(e)          any necessary and consequential technical and formatting related updates and revisions to the Constitution be delegated to the Monitoring Officer.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent

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 relating to the arrangements at Council for a separate budget meeting and the scheme of delegation for the planning committees.

In addition, the report seeks the appointment of an additional member of the committee to serve on the Constitution Review Working Group.

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

The Chair of the Constitution Review Working Group 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 provided a summary of the issues considered by the Constitution Review Working Group and set out a series of recommendations arising from the Working Group for consideration by the Committee. The recommendations related to the arrangements at Council for a separate budget meeting and the scheme of delegation for the planning committees. It was noted that any recommendations arising from the Committee would be referred to full Council for adoption. In addition, the report sought the appointment of an additional member of the Committee to serve on the Constitution Review Working Group.

Issue 2 – Part 3A Responsibility for Functions – Planning Committee:

The Director of Planning and Transport provided an explanation for the changes proposed to the functions of the planning committees as set out in paragraphs 20 to 27 of the report. The changes had been incorporated into an updated version of Part 3A of the Constitution at appendix 2. Members discussed at length the proposed change to section 2.3.7 (a) of Part 3A in relation to one of the criteria for councillor call in. As written, Members felt that the criteria requiring an application to raise material planning issues ‘that affect their ward’ was too restrictive, as this could be read to mean the whole of the ward which would rarely apply. Members agreed that the reference to material planning issues was key and that the term ‘potentially contentious’ was not required. However, Members felt that call in should be permitted where only part of their ward, however small, was affected.

A move to amend the wording of section 2.3.7 (a) to read as follows was seconded and carried:

“in the opinion of the Councillor making the request, the application raises material planning issues that affect part or all of their ward or would affect the wider public interest that would warrant debate and consideration by a planning committee; and”

Voting: For – 6, Against – 0, Abstain – 1

Issue 1 – Part 2, Article 4 (The Full Council) – Budget Meeting:

The Chair of the Working Group referred to recommendations (a) and (b) in the report and outlined the reasons for the proposed new Budget Council as set out in paragraphs 9 to 12. She assured Members that the review of other matters around full council meetings was ongoing. Committee members spoke in support of introducing a dedicated council meeting to consider the budget items.

RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that:

(a)  in relation to Issue 1 (Article 4 – The Full Council) the proposed amendments to Part 2, Article 4 (The Full Council), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(b)  that the Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 25 February 2025 be designated as the Annual Budget Council Meeting and that an additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54