The Council is requested to agree the following recommendation of the Constitution and Standards Committee held on 22 February 2023:

To amend:

(1)  standing order 9.1 & 14 to read where 3.5 hours have elapsed,

(2)  standing order 13.1 that the number of motions be limited to 1 per group,

(3)  standing order 13.2 so that the first motion on notice listed be rotated so as to allow each political group the opportunity for their motion to be debated first ( to be co-ordinated by the Director of Law & Governance), with motions thereafter to be listed in the order of political group size.’

Constitution and Standards minute 28 (22/02/23) and report attached.

The third matter for approval was in relation to amendments to the Council procedure rules.

On a motion by Councillor Tony Cox, seconded by Councillor Amanda Onwuemene, it was –

Resolved (38:21) (1 abstention) – That the following amendments to the Council Procedure be approved:

1.  Standing order 9.1 and 14 to read where 3.5 hours have elapsed.

2.  Standing order 13.1 that the number of motions be limited to 1 per group.

3.  Standing order 13.2 so that the first motion on notice listed be rotated so as to allow each political group the opportunity for their motion to be debated first (to be co-ordinated by the Director of Law and Governance), with motions thereafter to be listed in the order of political group size.

The Head of Democratic and Member Services presented the report of the Director of Law and Governance. The report provides a summary of the discussions held by the Governance Working Group in respect to the Council Procedure Rules and the consideration of Motions on Notice at Council Meetings. Members were informed that the Governance Working Group heard feedback from each of the Political Groups and the Mayor and determined that there were three matters which warranted further consideration by the Constitution & Standard Committee.

The matters previously identified by the Governance Working Group were:

· Standing Orders 9.1 &14 (l) that the meeting continues beyond 3 hours in duration (2 in the case of an extraordinary meeting)

· Standing Order 13.1 - so as to restrict the number of Motions on Notice submitted to one per political group

· Standing Order 13.2 – in respect to the order in which Motions on Notice are debated

The Governance working group, had over the past few months spoken with the Political Groups and consulted with other Local Authorities on best practice. Members discussed the requirement for openness and transparency during public meetings with several Members considering the previous arrangements sufficient. However, the ability for smaller groups to have their motions on notice heard and discussed in public was also raised as a concern for some Members.

A motion was moved by Councillor Tony Cox, Seconded by Councillor Amanda Onwuemene as follows;

‘that Council be recommended to amend

standing order 9.1 & 14 to read where 3.5 hours have elapsed,

standing order 13.1 to limit the number of motions on notice to 1 per political group,

standing order 13.2 so that the first motion on notice listed be rotated so as to allow each political group the opportunity for their motion to be debated first ( to be co-ordinated by the Director of Law & Governance), with motions thereafter to be listed in the order of political group size ’.

The motion was put and carried (4:2)

Resolved – that Council be recommended to amend,

(1)  standing order 9.1 & 14 to read where 3.5 hours have elapsed,

(2)  standing order 13.1 that the number of motions be limited to 1 per group,

(3)  standing order 13.2 so that the first motion on notice listed be rotated so as to allow each political group the opportunity for their motion to be debated first ( to be co-ordinated by the Director of Law & Governance), with motions thereafter to be listed in the order of political group size.’