To consider the recommendation from the Constitution and Standards Committee of 13 April 2023 on revisions to the Council Procedure Rules and Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers, alongside the recommendation from the Monitoring Officer for a number of minor amendments, with a revised Constitution for Council’s adoption.

The first item requiring approval was a referral from Constitution and Standards Committee, to adopt a revised Constitution including revisions to the Council Procedure Rules and Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers, alongside the recommendation from the Monitoring Officer for a number of minor amendments.

It was moved by Councillor Tony Cox, seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, that the recommendations as detailed in the report be agreed.

It was then moved by Councillor Jo Bird, seconded by Councillor Pat Cleary, that ‘In addition to the amendments identified in the report, that the Constitution be further amended in the following way:

Part 3(B) Responsibility for Functions – Committees (B) para 1 - now include a statement to say:

All committees adhere to the requirements of Section 15 (as amended) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 in their composition for political proportionality.  In the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs, the Council chooses to apply the principle of proportionality so that the number of Chairs and Vice Chairs appointed represents the same proportionality as its council membership.’

Following a number of members talking to the amendment, the amendment was put to the vote and lost (19:43) (1 abstention).

Councillor Gilchrist spoke as seconder of the original motion, before the motion was put to the vote and carried (62:0) (1 abstention). It was therefore –

Resolved – That

(1)  the amendments to the Constitution recommended by the Constitution and Standards as detailed in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.5 of the report be endorsed.

(2)  the minor amendments to the Constitution recommended by the Monitoring Officer as detailed in paragraph 3.7 of the report be endorsed.

(3)  the revised Constitution be adopted.

The Head of Democratic and Member Services introduced the report of the Director of Law and Governance. The report provided a summary of the discussions held by the Governance Working Group in respect to proposed changes to the Constitution. The proposed changes were in relation to: Sharing written responses to public questions with the public (SO 10.9 (c) and 12.6 (c)), sharing of motions and amendments without notice (SO 14(h)),  acceptance of grant funding by Officers, and Questions to members appointed to Joint Authorities at Council meetings (SO12.1).

Members commented that these changes would allow for further transparency within the council by including written responses to questions within minutes for meetings.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Onwuemene, it was,

Resolved - that the suggested amendments to the Standing Orders as detailed in sections 3.2 to 3.5 of the report be incorporated into the Constitution and presented for approval at the Annual Council Meeting in May 2023.