Jill Travers, Director of Law and Governance welcomed members of the Constitution and Standards Committee to the meeting and sought nominations for the role of Chair of the Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

It was moved by Councillor Gary Bennett, seconded by Councillor Mike Sullivan that Councillor Tony Cox be appointed Chair.

No other nominations were received.

Resolved – That Councillor Tony Cox be appointed Chair of the Constitution and Standards Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

Councillor Tony Cox in the Chair

The Chair invited nominations for the role of Vice Chair of the Constitution and Standards Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

It was moved by Councillor Tom Laing and seconded by Councillor Mike Sullivan that Councillor Phil Gilchrist be appointed Vice Chair.

No other nominations were received.

Resolved – That Councillor Phil Gilchrist be appointed as Vice Chair of the Constitution and Standards Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

No such apologies were received.

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members were asked to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

No declarations were made.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2023.

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2023 be agreed.

The Chair reported that there had been no public questions, statements or petitions submitted.

Jill Travers, Director of Law and Governance introduced the report. The purpose of the report was to enable the Constitution and Standards Committee to review the continuing need for various panels, statutory / advisory committees and working parties, and to appoint members and named deputies to serve on those (including the statutory committees and panels) that are to be retained in 2023/2024.

The Chair informed officers of the procedure followed in previous years. Councillor Phil Gilchrist suggested that the Member Steering Group should be made up of both members from the Constitution and Standards Committee and members who are not part of that committee, so that the Committee did not work in isolation. He felt that this had worked well during the last municipal year.

Following a discussion, the Chair suggested that all members of the Constitution and Standards Committee make up the membership of the Governance Working Group and that the Monitoring Officer be given authority to contact group leaders in regard to the Member Steering Group, both of which would be made up of seven members.

Resolved – That the Monitoring Officer, as proper officer be authorised to carry out the wishes of the Group Leaders in allocating Members to membership of the Statutory and Advisory Committees listed in the report and to appoint those Members with effect from the date at which the proper officer is advised of the names of such Members.

Steve Fox, Head of Democratic and Member Services, introduced the report. The purpose of the report was to enable the Constitution and Standards Committee to be appraised of the work during the 2022/2023 municipal year and ongoing planned work of the Members Support Steering Group. The Constitution and Standards Committee would receive the report at the first meeting of each municipal year.

The Chair commented that there had been significant changes in the make up of the Council over recent years with 23 new Members being elected to the Council in May 2023. He suggested that the comprehensive work undertaken by Members and Officer in development the Member Learning & Development Strategy 2023-2027 had resulted in a new member induction program which was well though through and flexible.

Councillor Grier welcomed the fact that many training opportunities were online and further asked if new members were provided with information on alternative methods of travel to in person meetings. Steve Fox responded that this was actively promoted through the Member Support Team who were on hand to assist and advise any Member.

Resolved – That the report be noted and endorsed.