The Deputy Monitoring Officer introduced a report of the Director: Governance and Assurance (Monitoring Officer) that sought approval for the establishment of a Constitutional Review Working Group for the municipal year 2018/19. The report also sought the Committee’s view on the membership, allocation of seats on a party basis, and to confirm arrangements for deputy members.

Members discussed the frequency of meetings for the Working Group, agreeing that it shall meet as frequently as considered necessary. The consensus view was to hold daytime meetings, on a monthly basis.

The Chair informed that, in line with current practice, Independent Members also be invited to attend the Working Group meetings – one member per meeting, on a rota basis, but with no voting rights.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  A cross-party Constitutional Review Working Group for the current Municipal Year be established;

(2)  The Constitutional Review Working Group shall comprise of the following:

·  three Members from the Labour Group (including the Chair)

·  two Members from the Conservative Group

·  one Member of the Liberal Democrat Group

·  one Independent Member (no voting rights)

i.e. a total of six members (plus one Independent Member), all of whom must be members (or in the case of Independent Members, a co-opted member) of the Council’s Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee (or in the case of the Liberal Democrat Member this may be his/her deputy); and

(3)  The Constitutional Review Working Group shall meet as frequently as considered necessary, commencing with daytime meetings to be held on a monthly basis.