Agenda item

To consider and respond to the motion.

Cabinet considered the following motion which had been moved by Councillor

Arthur Moran and seconded by Councillor David Brickhill at the Council meeting on 17^th July 2014 and referred to Cabinet for consideration:

“That the ConstitutionCommittee carefullydefine ‘emergency’ so that emergencypowers areusedonlyin a real emergency.”

Councillor A Moranhad been asked toclarifythe reasoningbehindthemotionand had commentedthat his Group was concerned that officers were using emergencypowers when there wasno emergency. The objective of the motion was toensure that decisions which had been made by memberswere notreversed without theirconsent,and also to prevent officers from makingdecisions which should have beenmadeby Councilor the appropriateCommittee.

The term ‘emergency powers’ in the motion was assumed to refer to urgent decisions taken by officers.

In some circumstances, officers were empowered totakeurgentaction without theneed to seek authorityfroma committeeor otherdecision- making bodyin orderto ensure that there were no delays in actionbeing taken.

Council had only recentlyagreed the current officer scheme of delegation at its meeting on 14^th May, havingreceived an appropriaterecommendationfromthe Constitution Committee. The scheme set the limits of powers delegated toCouncil officers,andother Councilarrangements weresufficient to ensurethat thesepowers were properlyexercised.

Councillor A Moran attended the meeting and spoke on the motion.

RESOLVED

That no further action be taken in response to the motion.