Issue - meetings

To consider the ongoing review of the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee considered a report reviewing progress to date with a review of the Constitution.

The Council’s Constitution had been prepared within a narrow timeframe but was considered robust and fit for purpose. Whilst the Constitution continued to serve the Council well, the Constitution Committee had initiated a review of the Constitution to secure further improvements. A programme of work for the review had been adopted but two additional matters had since been included:

1.      The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairmen had asked the Borough Solicitor to report on potential revisions to the Council Procedure Rules in respect of urgency procedures; and

2.      At the Annual Council meeting provisional changes had been made to the number and functions of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees. This Committee was asked to make recommendations on these matters.

The Committee considered progress to date:

A review of the Council’s executive arrangements, including executive procedure rules, decision-making by individual Cabinet Members, the Forward Plan and the definition of “key decisions”, had been deferred to the start of the Municipal Year at the request of the Cabinet.

An Officer Group had produced revised Finance and Contract Procedure Rules together with associated guidance and were consulting on the impact of the revised arrangements.

Revised departmental structures had now been established and the scheme of officer delegation was being revised to reflect changes since Vesting Day as well as any potential changes in the Finance and Contract Procedure Rules.

RESOLVED

That a full work programme for reviewing the Council’s Constitution be drafted with a view to the Committee determining its priorities at the next meeting.