The Chairman of the Constitution Review Working Group will provide a verbal update on the work of the Group following its meeting on 20 July 2021.
Minutes:
The Chairman of the Constitution Review Working Group provided the following update on the work of the Group following its meeting on 20 July 2021.
Review of the BCP Council Constitution
The Working Group received the final drafts of Part 2 Articles and Part 4 Procedure Rules of the Constitution which had been reviewed and updated with the support of external solicitors to reflect the suggestions submitted by Councillors and recommendations of the Working Group.
The Working Group agreed the drafts and requested that a representative from Weightmans attend the Audit and Governance Committee when the proposals were discussed in order to answer any questions which members of that Committee may have.
The Monitoring Officer had reported that work would now commence on a first draft of Part 3 Delegation of Functions. As before, BCP officers would prepare a draft for review by Weightmans before bringing it to the Constitution Review Working Group by the end of August.
Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee
The Working Group considered the proposal for the formation of an additional Overview & Scrutiny Committee to work on matters/council services pertaining to the environment. This committee would enable the O&S Board to retain its overarching role and maintain a strategic focus.
The possible scope of the new Environment O&S Committee was debated.
The Working Group agreed to support the establishment of a new Committee and requested a further report on the possible division of work between this committee and O&S Board to be discussed at a further meeting to which the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the O&S Board be invited.
Parish Council Request for Notification
The Working Group considered a request for parish councillors to receive notification regarding matters affecting their parishes. The Working Group agreed to support the recommendations that Democratic Services:
· Provide Parish Clerks with details of wards falling wholly or partially within their parish
· Provide guidance on how to subscribe to notifications
· Parish clerk to forward to parish councillors for self-registration
The Chairman indicated that five members present were on the Working Group. Therefore, this would be the first time that other Members of the Committee had received the update. The Chairman in particular referred to the proposal relating to a new overview and scrutiny Committee and making sure the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board had the opportunity to come to the Committee before any recommendations were progressed to full Council. He highlighted the need to ensure that the process for consideration of this issue was joined up and appropriate consultation had taken place.
Councillor Phipps asked if a written report would be submitted to the Audit and Governance Committee on the proposal for the new O&S Committee. Councillor Williams confirmed that a written report would be submitted to the Committee. Councillor Phipps also sought clarification on the notification for Parish Councils and what had been requested. The Deputy Head of Democratic Services outlined the issue raised which was as a result of a question to Council in June 2021 and that feedback would be provided to the Parish Council Chairman on the proposed recommendations.
RESOLVED that the update on the work of the Constitution Review Working Group be received and noted.