Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Floral Pavillion, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, CH45 2JS

Contact: Dan Sharples, Democracy Business Manager  Tel: 0151 666 3791 email:  danielsharples@wirral.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

34.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Janette Williamson, Councillor Moira McLaughlin, Professor Jones and Mr McCosh.

35.

Declarations of Interests

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No declarations of interests were declared.

36.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 388 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2022 be agreed.

37.

Public and Member Questions

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Minutes:

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

38.

Amendments to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Governance introduced the report which presented the Committee with the recommended changes to the Constitution for operation as

of the 2022/23 municipal year. It was reported that the Governance Working Group had undertaken a review of the Council’s committee system following its first year of operation, and the resulting changes required to the Constitution to enable the outcome of the review to be implemented were presented to the Committee.

 

On a motion by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, seconded by Councillor Chris Cooke, it was moved that the recommendation in the report be agreed, with the addition of “in particular, members’ attention be drawn to the new committee structure, the overview and scrutiny ways of working, the revised petition scheme, the detailed procedures covering matters of urgency, the reconsideration of overview and scrutiny function, the procedures for establishing sub-committees, along with the steps intended to inform members as they form agendas, and the enhanced role for Policy and Resources.”

 

The motion was put and agreed by assent.

 

A further motion was moved by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes, that “the Committee thanks all members of the Governance Working Group who have helped bring matters to a conclusion in time for the new municipal year”.

 

The motion was put and agreed by assent. It was therefore –

 

Resolved – That

 

(1)  Council be recommended to adopt the constitutional revisions as set out in Appendix A, in particular, members’ attention be drawn to the new committee structure, the overview and scrutiny ways of working, the revised petition scheme, the detailed procedures covering matters of urgency, the reconsideration of overview and scrutiny function, the procedures for establishing sub-committees, along with the steps intended to inform members as they form agendas, and the enhanced role for Policy and Resources.

(2)  the Committee thanks all members of the Governance Working Group who have helped bring matters to a conclusion in time for the new municipal year.

39.

Calendar of Meetings 2022-23 pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report of the Director of Law and Governance was considered which recommended draft dates for Council and Committee meetings for the 2022/23 municipal year.

 

Members discussed the matter of holding committee meetings on days of national celebration and during school holidays.

 

On a motion by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart it was –

 

Resolved – That Council be recommended to approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2022/23 municipal year, subject to Policy and Resources Committee being rescheduled from 14 February 2023 to 15 February 2023 and officers being asked when designing the schedule in future, to continue to take steps to avoid school holidays and significant dates.