Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Constitution Committee on proposed changes to arrangements for Council meetings.

Following the Council meeting in October 2019, at which a range of proposed changes to the Council’s meeting arrangements had been considered, a survey of members had been undertaken to secure members’ views. The survey results had been considered by the Constitution Committee on 21 November 2019.  The results had indicated broad support for all of the proposals originally considered by Council.

RESOLVED:  Council approves that:

1        with effect from the start of the next municipal year, all ordinary meetings of the Council be held on Wednesdays;

2        Council meetings, other than the Annual Council meeting, continue to be held in Sandbach, at Sandbach Town Hall, but that where a larger venue is needed for a particular occasion, a suitable venue in an alternative location be used;

3        with effect from the start of the next municipal year, all ordinary Council meetings start at 11.00 am;

4        at meetings of Council and the Cabinet, a maximum period of two minutes be allowed for each member wishing to ask a question during members’ question time, and a maximum period of two minutes be allowed for each member of the public wishing to speak or ask a question during public speaking time, subject to the Chairman having discretion to vary this requirement where he/she considers it appropriate;

5        at meetings of Council, a total period of two minutes be allowed in which the proposer and seconder of a motion under Paragraph 1.34 (a Notice of Motion) may speak in order to explain the purpose of the motion before the motion is dealt with; and

6        the Director of Governance and Compliance be authorised to make such amendments to the Constitution as she considers necessary to give effect to the changes above.

To consider a report on proposed changes to Council and other meeting arrangements and the results of a survey of all members.

The Committee gave further consideration to its original recommendations to Council on 17^th October 2019 in relation to proposed changes to meeting arrangements. This followed a survey of all members on the proposals.

The survey results had indicated broad support for all of the proposals originally recommended by the Committee.

RESOLVED

That, having considered the results of the survey of all members, the Committee recommends to Council that the recommendations set out in the Committee’s report to Council on 17^th October 2019 be approved.