Issue - meetings

To consider a proposal that all existing officer delegations remain effective pending the completion of the current senior management review.

The Committee considered a proposal that all existing officer delegations remain effective pending the completion of the senior management review.

As authorised by Council, a management review was taking place, the first appointments under the review having already been made. The Council’s Constitution, including the officer delegation scheme, currently reflected the pre-review officer structure. As appointments were made to the new structure it would be important to ensure that the officers had the appropriate powers and duties to fulfil their responsibilities. It was therefore proposed that pending the completion of the management review, all existing delegations should remain effective and should accrue to the relevant post holders under the new structure as appropriate.

A Scheme of Delegation Member Working Group had been appointed to review and amend the existing officer scheme of delegation and to make appropriate recommendations to the Constitution Committee. The Group was in the process of formulating a number of proposed changes to the scheme. It would be necessary for the Group to continue to review the scheme in the light of the emerging Council structure before concluding its recommendations.

Members made it clear that they expected the Working Group to conclude its review of the scheme of delegation within the next three months and to report back to the Committee with recommendations. On this basis, they were prepared to recommend that the proposed transitional arrangements be effective until 1^st September.

RESOLVED

That

(1)  in order to ensure that the Council’s decision-making arrangements properly reflect the emerging officer structure under the management review, Council be recommended to approve that all existing delegations shall remain effective pending further review and shall accrue to the relevant post holders as appropriate, such arrangements to have effect until 1^st September 2013; and

(2)  the Scheme of Delegation Member Working Group continue to review the officer scheme of delegation, having regard to the new management structure and the move to a commissioning Council, and seek to conclude its review within the next three months.