Issue - meetings

To consider whether the frequency of the Council’s meetings should be reviewed and whether changes should be made to the Council’s Calendar of Meetings.

The Committee considered whether the frequency of the Council’s meetings should be reviewed.

Information had been obtained on the frequency of the formal public meetings held by comparator local authorities. From an initial inspection of the figures provided, Cheshire East Council appeared to have a similar frequency of meetings to that of comparator authorities. However, Members felt that it would be helpful to have a further, in-depth review not only of the numbers of meetings held but also of the purpose and size of each body. It was also agreed that the content and process of Council meetings should be reviewed.

Members recognised that this work would require further investigation by the officers and that this should not delay the process for approving the calendar of meetings for next year.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the Constitution Member Working Group be asked to undertake a further, in-depth review of the Council’s meeting arrangements, focussing on the purpose and size of each body, the frequency of meetings, and the content and process of Council meetings, and report to the Committee; and

2.     in the meantime, the calendar of meetings for 2014/15 should be submitted to Council for approval in accordance with the usual process and timetable.