Issue - meetings

To review the Committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered a report summarising its work programme to date, including progress with various work streams:

Scheme of Delegation

A revised scheme of delegation had been approved by Council on 17^th October 2013. In approving the scheme, Council had authorised the Interim Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Constitution Committee, to incorporate the new management structure into the scheme when all necessary aspects of the structure had been settled, with the scheme as amended being re-submitted to the Constitution Committee for confirmation. It was intended that the revised version of the scheme would be submitted to the Committee’s meeting on 23^rd January 2014.

The Member Working Group’s review of the scheme of delegation was continuing and further proposals would be submitted to the Committee for consideration in due course.

Civic Sub-Committee Terms of Reference

The Constitution Member Working Group would be considering this matter at its meeting on 25^th November.

Transparency and Openness

The Constitution Member Working Group would be considering this matter at its meeting on 25^th November.

Review of Policy Development Groups and Scrutiny Committees

Following consultation with the political groups, the size and membership of the PDG/Scrutiny Member Working Group had now been determined as follows:

Councillor Peter Groves

Councillor Steve Hogben

Councillor Shirley Jones

Councillor David Marren

Councillor Rod Menlove

Councillor Arthur Moran

Councillor David Newton

Councillor Margaret Simon

Councillor Paul Whiteley

Proportionality: 5:2:1:1

The first meeting of the working group would be held shortly.

(Note: Councillor Menlove has since been replaced on the Working Group by Councillor Steve Wilkinson.)

Review of the Size and Structure of the Constitution

The officers were continuing to work with the Vice-Chairman to produce a concise, user-friendly version of the Constitution for the Committee’s consideration. Alongside this work, the Interim Head of Legal Services had appointed an officer working group to undertake a review of the Constitution/finance and contract procedure rules. These two work streams were being co-ordinated with a view to submitting proposals for consideration in due course.

The Committee has previously expressed the view that a general  review of the terms of reference of committees and the procedure rules within the Constitution would be beneficial. Such reviews would have implications for the work being undertaken on the size and structure of the Constitution. In order to make progress in all areas, it was suggested that the Constitution Member Working Group be asked to undertake the reviews, and any further reviews required from time to time, and report to the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED

That

(1)  the current progress with the various work streams be noted; and

(2)  the Constitution Member Working Group be asked to undertake reviews of the terms of reference of committees, the procedure rules, certain issues relating to executive decision-making, and any further reviews required from time to time, and report to the Committee in due course.