To consider matters referred to the Council for determination. The relevant minutes are attached; copies of the related reports can be provided for Council members on request.

(i)  Minute 350 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Departmental Service Plans and Updated Corporate Plan for 2010/11

(ii)  Minute 352 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  *Nomination of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Municipal Year 2010/11

*Note: this minute requires approval by the Annual Meeting of the Council

(iii)  Minute 353 (Cabinet (18/3/10)  Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

(iv)  Minute 359 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Scrutiny Programme Board Referral – Draft Protocol Scrutiny of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

(v)  Minute 360 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Committee Calendar for Municipal Year 2010/11

(vi)  Minute 367 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Contract Procedure Rules

The following items will be referred to Council from Cabinet on 15 April, 2010:

(i)  Committee Referral – Audit and Risk Management Committee – Petitions Scheme

(ii) Governance Arrangements

(iii)  Committee Referral - Scrutiny Programme Board – Scrutiny of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

In accordance with Standing Order 7(1) a number of matters were submitted for approval by the Council.

Resolved – That the following matters be approved:

Minute 350 (Cabinet – 18/3/10) Departmental Service Plans and Updated Corporate Plan for 2010/11

Minute 352 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Nomination of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Municipal Year 2010/11

Minute 353 (Cabinet (18/3/10) Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009

Minute 359 (Cabinet – 18/3/10)  Scrutiny Programme Board Referral – Draft Protocol Scrutiny of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

Minute 360 (Cabinet – 18/3/10) Committee Calendar for Municipal Year 2010/11

Minute 367 (Cabinet – 18/3/10) Contract Procedure Rules

Minute 391 (Cabinet – 15/4/10) Governance Review – Implementation of New Governance Arrangements

Minute 394 (Cabinet – 15/4/10) Committee Referral – Audit and Risk Management Committee – Petitions Scheme

Minute 399 (Cabinet – 15/4/10) Committee Referral - Scrutiny Programme Board – Scrutiny of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

The Audit and Risk and Management Committee considered this report and the minute and report are attached.

Also comments were received from the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and these are attached.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management presented a report setting out the new statutory duty on local authorities to have a scheme for handling petitions and presented a draft for consideration by the Cabinet, the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Board, the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the Audit and Risk Management Committee, with a view to it being recommended to the Council on 19 April 2010 for immediate implementation.

The Director informed that people who lived, worked or studied in the borough could sign petitions.

The purpose of the report was to ensure that the Council’s governance arrangements complied with the changing law.

The views expressed by the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees were considered and taken into account

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the recommendations of the Audit and Risk Management Committee held on 24 March 2010 (Minute No. 94 refers) be endorsed and the Council be requested to similarly endorse the proposals for the Petitions Scheme as amended by that recommendation;

(2)  in the light of (i) above, the threshold will be 1,500 signatures on a petition to trigger a Council Debate and 750 signatures on a petition to trigger an Officer response to the appropriate Council Committee; and

(3)   Council be recommended to agree that the new Petition Scheme takes effect in Wirral from the statutory implementation date set out in the legislation.