Issue - meetings

To consider proposed interim arrangements for considering appeals through the appointment of an Appeals Sub-Committee.

The Committee considered proposed interim arrangements for considering appeals through the appointment of an Appeals Sub-Committee.

The Council at its Annual Meeting on 18^th May 2011 had reviewed the Council’s committee structure and had decided not to appoint an Appeals Committee as a standalone body, instead transferring that Committee’s functions to the Audit and Governance Committee.

The Officers had given further consideration to these arrangements in light of CIPFA best practice which suggested that audit and governance committees were likely to be more effective by focussing on their own defined areas of business rather than on a broader remit. The Constitution Committee would therefore be asked at its next meeting to review the arrangements for dealing with appeals with a view to making suitable recommendations to Council.

In the meantime, there were a number of appeals waiting to be heard and for the time being the Audit and Governance Committee was the responsible body. The Committee was therefore required to determine interim arrangements for considering appeals.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   an Appeals Sub-Committee be appointed with full delegated powers to hear and determine the following:

§         appeals lodged under the Marriage Acts.

§         appeals lodged with the Council for determination, as authorised under all relevant education legislation, excluding those duties falling to the Independent Appeals Panel (schools admissions and exclusions).

§         appeals lodged with the Council in respect of school transport.

§         appeals from bus contractors in accordance with contract procedures.

§         any appeals lodged with the Council as Social Services Authority, and as authorised under all relevant social services legislation.

(2)   the Sub-Committee comprise 5 members (3 Con; 1 Lab; 1 Ind) to be nominated by the Political Groups;

(3)   the Officers arrange suitable training for the members appointed to the Sub-Committee;

(4)   the Appeals Sub-Committee’s meetings be held, wherever possible, on those dates already scheduled in the calendar of meetings for the former Appeals Committee; and

(5)   the Committee note that the arrangements for dealing with appeals are to be reviewed by the Constitution Committee at its next meeting and the outcome of that review be awaited.