Recommendation from Constitution Committee - Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report which outlined the new provisions introduced by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and which informed Members of amendments to current practice to ensure compliance with the new provisions.
The Regulations covered such matters as holding meetings in public, recording of meetings, key decisions and the Forward Plan, executive decisions taken by officers, dispensations to Members, Member and public access to documents and the Leader’s report to Council. Full details were set out in the report which also detailed actions taken to bring the Council’s procedures in line with the new Regulations, including some changes to the Forward Plan procedure. In other respects, there were no practical implications for the Council although some matters required further clarification or consultation with relevant Members.
RESOLVED
That
(1) the actions taken so far to comply with the new Regulations as detailed in the report be noted;
(2) it be recommended to the Leader of the Council that the Forward Plan continue to be published on a monthly basis;
(3) clarification be sought from the Department for Communities and Local Government as to the intended focus of the new regulation relating to the recording of executive decisions taken by officers;
(4) the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee be consulted on the arrangements for dispensations for members as discussed in paragraph 10.17 of the report;
(5) the matter of the Leader’s report to Council on urgent executive decisions as discussed in paragraph 10.20 be referred to the Leader of the Council for consideration;
(6) it be noted that in accordance with the authority delegated to the Borough Solicitor by Council on 23rd July 2009 to exercise corrective powers with regard to the Constitution in cases where it is considered appropriate to do so, the Borough Solicitor will make such consequential amendments to the Constitution as are necessary to give effect to the new Regulations; and
(7) a further report be submitted to the next meeting.