Issue - meetings

To review the terms of reference of the Outside Organisations Sub-Committee.

At its meeting on 24^th June 2010 the Constitution Committee had reconstituted the then Outside Organisations Task Group as a Standing Sub-Committee of the Constitution Committee.

The Sub-Committee had now reviewed its terms of reference in relation to the procedure for considering new appointments and the criteria to be used when making appointments to outside organisations. The following revised terms of reference were recommended to the Constitution Committee for approval:

“REVISED TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Sub-Committee will comprise six Members on the basis previously agreed (3 Conservative; 1 Labour; 1 Independent: 1 Liberal Democrat).

The Sub-Committee, which will meet on an ad hoc basis, will be responsible for the following:

(a)         Managing its own programme of work;

(b)         Making recommendations, as and when appropriate to the Constitution Committee;

(c)         Overseeing all appointments  to Category 2 outside organisations, addressing any issues emerging in respect of those appointments;

(d)         Reviewing representation to inform the appointments process for the next round of appointments [which take effect from the new Council in 2015];

(e)         Considering new requests for representation, and assessing the appropriateness of including those organisations onto the schedule of  approved organisations;

(f)           Subject to the outcome of (e) above, make recommendations to the Cabinet in respect of any outside organisation deemed to be a Category 1; and make recommendations to the Constitution Committee in respect of Category 2 organisations;

(g)         Reviewing, as and when appropriate, the Legal Guidance for Members Appointed to Outside Organisations;

(h)        Conduct comprehensive reviews of representation, as and when  appropriate, to establish the appropriateness of representation;

(i)           Make recommendations to the Senior Member Development Officer in respect of training for Members representing the Council on outside organisations.”

RESOLVED

That the revised terms of reference for the Outside Organisations Sub-Committee be approved and the Borough Solicitor be asked to exercise her delegated powers to make any consequential amendments to the Constitution.