To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-
https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1
The deadline for the submission of public questions is 4 clear working days before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
The Committee was advised of the receipt of the following Public Question.
Question
PUBLIC QUESTION FOR BCPC AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON 31.3.22
SUBJECT:DEFICIENCIES IN DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES RELATING TO PUBLIC ISSUES & AGENDAS, FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION AT THIS COMMITTEE’S MEETING ON 17.3.22 THAT THE COUNCIL’S BROKEN “WEBLINKS” WOULD BE IDENTIFIED WITH URGENCY & RECTIFIED
PUBLIC QUESTION
Noted that between 22.3.22 & 23.3.22 this Committee’s agenda links were enabled, accessing the lengthily indexed 304 page Constitution but not directly the Public Issues criteria.
Entailing less than immediate transparency regarding a restrictive earlier procedural change: Public Questions submitted to appropriate overseeing Committees/Sub Committees/Cabinet (not the customarily less frequent Full Council) meetings must relate to agenda-specific items usually published the day before submission cut-off.
Will consideration therefore be given to the concern that neither Committees nor public have assured timely awareness of certain issues eg my non-agenda’d accumulating questions regarding significant infractions of law & accounting.
Philip Gatrell 24.3.22
Response
“I would like to thank Mr Gatrell for his question.
“Public participation at council, cabinet or committee meetings is a discretionary facility to allow the public an opportunity to engage with the democratic process.
“The existing arrangements for the submission of questions and statements by the public were adopted by full council following consideration by the Constitution Review Working Group and the Audit and Governance Committee.
“The Constitution should not, as a matter of routine, be constantly reviewed and updated, and members will be aware that a comprehensive review was recently completed and adopted by Council. However, the concerns raised by Mr Gatrell in relation to public questions and statements will be referred to the Constitution Review Working Group for consideration when they next meet. No meetings of the Working Group are currently scheduled but I’d like to assure Mr Gatrell that it will be added to their work programme for consideration.
“Finally, I would like to invite Mr Gatrell to contact me direct in the first instance if he identifies or considers there to be operational deficiencies in democratic processes. I do not consider raising matters for the first time at a committee meeting to be either efficient or an effective use of committee time. If I am able to resolve the matter I will do so promptly or provide an explanation if this is not possible.”
Richard Jones, Head of Democratic Services
The Committee was advised of the receipt of the following Public Statement.
Statement
PUBLIC STATEMENT FOR BCPC AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON 31.3.22SUBJECT:PROPOSAL TO AMEND COUNCIL PROTOCOLS IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC ISSUE QUESTIONS & STATEMENTS (CURRENTLY LIMITED TO 100 WORDS EACH) IN VIEW OF THE ACCOMPANYING QUESTION TO THIS COMMITTEE
PUBLIC STATEMENT
Impediments to timely scrutiny, remedial actions & delivering accountability –
- Public Questions & Statements relating to “Council business” channel without subject restriction to Full Council. However, an individual’s rights in that forum are restricted to potentially inadequate four of each issue type per single Municipal Year.
- Moreover, concerning infractions, although Full Council meetings are an essential medium for certain issues, they do not substitute for prompt consideration in the first instance by the designated overseeing Committee or Cabinet.
- Given also - as evidenced by correspondence - significant procedural contraventions & misstatements initially notified to Statutory Officers are susceptible to inordinate delays and opposition to satisfactory resolution.
Philip Gatrell 28.3.22
The Chairman of the Committee thanked Mr Gatrell for his question and statement and for his email addressed to all members of the Committee.