Agenda item

To consider the recommendation from the Constitution Committee.

The Constitution Committee, at its meeting on 15 September 2016, had considered a report seeking clarification and guidance on the arrangements for the audio-recording of decision-making meetings. The Committee had taken the view that the requirement to record should apply to the meetings of all decision-making bodies, including Overview and Scrutiny committees.

The Committee had also considered whether the audio recordings should be published on the Council’s website.

The Constitution Committee had made four recommendations to Council. Recommendations 1 and 2 comprised firm proposals which Council was asked to agree. However, recommendations 3 and 4 required further consideration by Council. Recommendations 1 and 2 were, therefore, considered together as a package and recommendation 3 and recommendation 4 were considered separately.

Recommendations 1 and 2, as set out in the draft Constitution Committee minutes were proposed and seconded.

A requisition for a named vote was submitted and duly supported, with the following results:-

For - Cllrs C Andrew, A Arnold, D Bailey, Rachel Bailey, Rhoda  Bailey, Baggott, P Bates, G Baxendale, M Beanland, D Bebbington, S Brookfield, E Brooks, D Brown, B Burkhill, P Butterill, S Carter, C Chapman, J Clowes, S Corcoran, H Davenport, W S Davies, M Deakin, T Dean, B Dooley, L Durham, S Edgar, I Faseyi, P Findlow, R Fletcher, T Fox, D Flude, H Gaddum, S Gardiner, S Gardner, L Gilbert, P Groves, J Hammond, M Hardy, A Harewood, S Hogben, D Hough, O Hunter, J Jackson, L Jeuda, M Jones, A Kolker, J Macrae, D Mahon, N Mannion, D Marren, A Martin, S McGrory, R Menlove, G Merry, A Moran, B Moran, M Parsons, S Pochin, J Rhodes, B Roberts, J Saunders, M Sewart, M Simon, L Smetham, D Stockton, A Stott, G Wait, B Walmsley, G M Walton, L Wardlaw, M Warren, M J  Weatherill, H Wells-Bradshaw, G Williams and J  Wray.

Against -  Cllr C Browne.

The motion was declared carried, with votes 75 for and 1 against.

RESOLVED

That

1.     That, subject to the following principles, the audio recording of meetings shall take place:

(a)  All decision-making meetings of the Council be subject to audio-recording, including overview and scrutiny committees (but not informal non-decision-making bodies such as working groups) unless the press and public have, by resolution, been excluded from the meeting;

(b)  Any member who was a member of a decision-making body at a meeting of that body, including anyone attending as a substitute, may request that the audio recording of that meeting be reviewed in order to clarify the wording of a draft minute;

(c)  Such a request for review of the audio recording must be made on a working day before the day of the meeting at which the draft minutes are to be submitted for approval; and

(d)  The audio recordings be retained for a period of 6 months from the date of the meeting in question, unless a Freedom of Information request is made in respect of the recording, in which case the recording will be retained for such longer period as is required by law.

2.     That delegated authority be given to the Director of Legal Services, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Constitution Committee, to make such changes to the Constitution as he considers necessary to give effect to the wishes of Council.

Consideration was given to recommendation 3 from the Constitution Committee, as set out in the draft Constitution Committee minutes. Following debate,  the following motion was proposed and seconded:-

“That the audio recordings of meetings shall be published on the Council’s website”.

A requisition for a named vote was submitted and duly supported, with the following results:-

For - Cllrs C Andrew, A Arnold, D Bailey, Rachel Bailey, Rhoda  Bailey, Baggott, P Bates, G Baxendale, M Beanland, D Bebbington, S Brookfield, E Brooks, D Brown, B Burkhill, P Butterill, S Carter, C Chapman, J Clowes, S Corcoran, H Davenport, W S Davies, M Deakin, T Dean, B Dooley, L Durham, S Edgar, I Faseyi, P Findlow, R Fletcher, T Fox, D Flude, H Gaddum, S Gardiner, S Gardner, L Gilbert, P Groves, J Hammond, M Hardy, A Harewood, S Hogben, D Hough, O Hunter, J Jackson, L Jeuda, M Jones, A Kolker, J Macrae, D Mahon, N Mannion, D Marren, A Martin, R Menlove, G Merry, A Moran, B Moran, M Parsons, S Pochin, J Rhodes, B Roberts, J Saunders, M Sewart, M Simon, L Smetham, D Stockton, A Stott, G Wait, B Walmsley, G M Walton, L Wardlaw, M Warren, M J  Weatherill, H Wells-Bradshaw, G Williams and J  Wray.

Against -  Cllrs C Browne and S McGrory.

Not Voting – Cllr D Hough.

The motion was declared carried, with 73 votes for, 2 against and 1 not voting.

RESOLVED

3.     That the audio recordings of meetings shall be published on the Council’s website.

Consideration was given to recommendation 4 from the Constitution Committee, as set out in the draft Constitution Committee minutes.

RESOLVED

4.     That a report should be presented to the Constitution Committee which will explore the implications of the Openness and Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014.