Agenda item

Constitution Changes

To consider the report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services

 

Minutes:

A report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services on proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution had been circulated with the agenda for the meeting.

 

Subsequent discussions had taken place between Councillor R. Hollingworth, Leader of the Council and Councillor P. M. McDonald, Leader of the Labour Group and, as a consequence, supplementary papers were tabled which included a summary of proposed changes which had been agreed by the two Leaders (Table 1), a summary of proposed changes which had not been agreed (Table 2), together with the relevant sections of the Constitution which showed the proposed agreed changes.

 

The proposed changes set out in Table 1 were moved by Councillor M. A. Bullivant and seconded by Councillor Dr. D. W. P. Booth.

 

At the request of Councillor P. M. McDonald and with the consent of Councillor R. Hollingworth, it was agreed that item 4 in Table 1 (Part 4 Council Procedure Rules Para 11.1) be deferred for further consideration. Arising from comments made by Councillor C. B. Taylor with regard to Item 2 in Table 1 (Part 20 Code of Practice – Planning Services), it was agreed that these proposed changes be deferred for further consideration and that both deferred items be reported back to the next meeting of the full Council on 18th April 2012.  

 

Having been put to the vote, it was

 

RESOLVED that approval be given to the proposed changes to the Constitution as set out in items 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Table 1 and summarised in the Appendix to these minutes.

 

The proposed changes set out in Table 2 as indicated below were moved by Councillor P. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor L. C. R. Mallett.

 

Number

Section of Constitution

Reference in report

Nature of amendment proposed

1

Part 4 Council Procedure Rules

Para 11.6

3.10 b (page 24)

Notice of Motions - 11.6 sets out the grounds on which a Notice of Motion may be rejected.  Proposal is to remove the reference to rejecting a Notice of Motion if it is not of a “strategic nature”.

2

Part 4 Council Procedure Rules

Para 11.12

3.10 d (page 24)

The time limit for debating Notices of Motion is currently one hour.  Proposal is to extend this to two hours.

3

Part 8 Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules Para 6

3.8 (page 23)

Rules re chairing of Overview and Scrutiny Board.  Proposal is to add a requirement at para 6 of Part 8 that the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny must be a member of the largest non -controlling group.

 

 An amendment was moved by Councillor Mrs. S. J. Baxter and seconded by Councillor L. J. Turner that, with regard to item 3, the proposed wording “that the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny must be a member of the largest non-controlling group” be changed to “that the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny will wherever possible be a member of the largest non-controlling group.”

 

Having been put to the vote the Chairman declared the amendment to be lost.

 

The proposed changes set out in Table 2 were then put to the vote, with each of the three items subject to a separate vote. The Chairman declared each vote to be lost. 

Supporting documents: