Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To review the Health and Wellbeing Board’s terms of reference.

The Committee considered revised terms of reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Health and Wellbeing Board’s Terms of Reference included the requirement for them to be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that they remained fit for purpose. The Board had reviewed and agreed amendments to its terms of reference at its meeting on 31^st January 2013 and the terms of reference as amended were attached as an Appendix to the report.

Members referred to the quorum arrangements for the Health and Wellbeing Board and sought assurances that these were adequate. Members also asked how the member organisations of the Board would hold one another to account and in this respect emphasised the role of the Council’s overview and scrutiny committee in scrutinising the work of the Board. The officers were asked to convey Members’ comments to the Board.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the revised terms of reference of the Health and Wellbeing Board as set out in the Appendix to the report be recommended to Council for approval;

2.    subject to such approval, the Director of Legal Services be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly; and

3.    the Committee’s comments on the revised terms of reference be conveyed to the Board.

To consider a report on the logistical implications of recording, webcasting and providing social media commentary in respect of the Council’s decision-making meetings.

The Committee considered a report on the logistical implications of recording, webcasting and providing social media commentary in respect of the Council’s decision-making meetings. 

The report outlined and evaluated the Council’s experience to date and briefly summarised the arrangements at a range of other local authorities. It set out four options for future recording and broadcasting arrangements, together with their associated costs.

A short film on an alternative audio recording system with enhanced functionality was viewed by the Committee.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the current recording and webcasting arrangements continue until the end of the current municipal year;

2.    with effect from the next municipal year, an enhanced audio recording system as referred to as Option 2 in the report be introduced for use in relation to all of the Council’s formal decision-making bodies, and the webcasting of Cabinet meetings be discontinued; and

3.    the arrangements be reviewed 12 months after coming into operation.

The Director of Legal Services to provide an update to the Committee and recommendations for the review to be taken forward.

The Committee considered proposed arrangements for the ongoing review of the Constitution. A systematic review of the Constitution was currently taking place at officer level which included a survey of best practice at other authorities. It was now appropriate to bring forward proposals for members’ consideration and in this respect it was suggested that a member working group be appointed to consider proposed changes to the Constitution and make recommendations to the Committee.

RESOLVED

That

1.    a member working group of five members of the Constitution Committee (3 Conservative; 1 Labour; 1 Independent) be appointed to review the Constitution, the names to be notified by the Group Whips; and

2.    substitute members may be appointed to the Group from within the membership of the Constitution Committee.