Issue - meetings

To give consideration to the recommendations of the Corporate Policy Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of Corporate Policy Committee on 30 November 2023 in relation to proposed changes to the Constitution.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1          the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Officer Delegations and Staffing as set out in paragraph 8 - a) of the report subject to an amendment to the revised paragraph 36 to require that any decisions taken under these delegations are taken in consultation with the chair and vice-chair of the relevant service committee;

2          the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Officer Delegations to Executive Directors only and settlement agreements as set out in paragraph 8 - b) of the report;

3          the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to decision-making with regard to early retirement and severance packages as set out in paragraphs 8 -c) of the report;

4          the changes to the Council’s Constitution to allow the inclusion of provisions to allow for electronic signing and sealing of documents as set out in paragraph 8 – d) of the report; and

5          the changes to the Council’s Constitution to the provisions regarding approvals of grants schemes as set out in paragraph 8 – e) of the report.

To consider a report on proposed changes to the Constitution.

The Committee considered a report on proposed changes to the Constitution, as recommended by the Constitution Working Group, in relation to various administrative, procedural and staffing matters. The changes were set out in paragraph 8 of the report, together with the reasons for them.

With regard to a delegation to Directors to implement changes to staffing structures involving the loss of 10 or more posts not currently vacant, members commented that they would wish to know if any such changes involved redundancies. Officers suggested that the delegations relating to staffing as set out in paragraph 8(a) of the report could be subject to consultation with the chair and vice-chair of the relevant committee in addition to other relevant parties.

With regard to a proposal that a committee may delegate to the relevant Executive Director a financial limit for the allocation of grants, donations and other contributions to outside bodies, members commented that they would wish to see the details of any internal, Council-led grant. Councillor M Warren, Chair of the Constitution Working Group, advised that all grants this year were funded externally but that if a grant was above a certain threshold, it would be reported to the appropriate committee.

RESOLVED (unanimously)

That the Committee recommends to Council

1.    the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Officer Delegations and Staffing as set out in paragraph 8 - a) of the report subject to an amendment to the revised paragraph 36 to require that any decisions taken under these delegations are taken in consultation with the chair and vice-chair of the relevant service committee;

2.    the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Officer Delegations to Executive Directors only and settlement agreements as set out in paragraph 8 - b) of the report;

3.    the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to decision-making with regard to early retirement and severance packages as set out in paragraphs 8 - c) of the report;

4.    the changes to the Council’s Constitution to allow the inclusion of provisions to allow for electronic signing and sealing of documents as set out in paragraph 8 – d) of the report; and

5.    the changes to the Council’s Constitution to the provisions regarding approvals of grants schemes as set out in paragraph 8 – e) of the report.