Issue - meetings

The Chairman was of the opinion that this matter constituted urgent business and could be dealt with at the Governance and Constitution Committee’s meeting in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 37 and Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for urgency was as follows:

“In order to implement the result of discussions between the Leader of the Council and group leaders in time for the next full Council meeting.”

On 17^th December 2009, after a recommendation from the Committee, Council resolved to remove from the Constitution the provision giving the right to Members to ask supplementary questions. At the time, the Leader had indicated that he would give the issue further thought, which he had now done. During the last few days, discussions had taken place with other group leaders which had resulted in agreement on the inclusion in the Constitution of a supplementary questions provision, in an appropriately modified form. As a consequence, the Chairman wished to move a recommendation to Council the following Thursday.

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended to agree that

(1)   the following provision, enabling Members to ask supplementary questions at Council meetings, be added to the Constitution, at Rule 11.6 of the Council Procedure Rules:

“11.6    Following the answer to each question, the questioner may ask a concise and focussed supplementary question, which relates to the subject matter of the initial question and answer.  The Mayor may choose to disallow a supplementary question if, in his opinion, it is inappropriate or unduly lengthy.  The Member answering the supplementary question will decide whether or not to reply.”

(2)   the Borough Solicitor be authorised to make such consequential changes to the Constitution as he considers are necessary to give effect to the wishes of Council.