Issue - meetings

To consider a report which seeks to respond to the resolution of the Audit and Governance Committee of 14^th June 2012, which called for a report to be presented to the Constitution Committee on the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and Officer Scheme of Delegation, with a view to increasing the level of Member involvement in decision-making.

Prior to consideration of this matter, the Democratic and Registration Services Manager reported receipt of an email from a member of the public asking that the powers currently delegated to officers to approve the renewal of licences for sexual entertainment establishments in certain circumstances be rescinded and that such matters be dealt with by the relevant licensing committee.

The Committee considered a report in response to a resolution of the Audit and Governance Committee of 14^th June, which called for a report to be presented to the Constitution Committee on the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and officer Scheme of Delegation, with a view to increasing the level of Member involvement in decision-making.

Appendix 1 to the report contained a draft Code of Practice which sought to address the issues of concern to the Audit and Governance Committee. The Code of Practice sought to strengthen the exchange of information between Officers and Members and improved and clarified current practice and procedures around decision-making, including the use of officer delegations.

Members felt that the draft Code formed a useful basis for further work alongside a review of the Officer scheme of delegation, and that the Code, as an improvement on the current arrangements, should be used on an interim basis whilst further work was undertaken by a Member task and finish group appointed for that purpose. The Borough Solicitor referred to authority delegated to her by Council to make consequential amendments to the officer scheme of delegation to reflect changes to the senior management structure; she would make such necessary changes to the document prior to its consideration by the task and finish group to ensure that the document accurately reflected the current delegation arrangements.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   a task and finish group of five members of the Committee (3 Conservative; 1 Labour; 1 Independent) be appointed to give further detailed consideration to the draft Officer Code of Practice, and to the officer scheme of delegation (Powers and Responsibilities of Officers) as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, and report back to the Committee’s next meeting;

(2)   a Liberal Democrat Group member be invited to attend meetings of the task and finish group on a non-voting basis in order to participate in the work of the group; and

(3)   in the meantime, the draft Officer Code of Practice be used on an interim basis.