Decision - Review of the Council's Constitution 2014

105.1         Councillor Littman introduced the report that had been referred from the Policy & Resources Committee on 20 March 2014 to the Council for approval. He thanked Councillors Peltzer Dunn and Morgan who had also been on the Constructional Working Group, and highlighted the proposed changes as set out in the report.

105.2         Councillor Mears proposed the amendment, as listed in the addendum, on behalf of the Conservative Group and stated that the proposal to retain the time period for deputation to 5 minutes was considered to be open and transparent for members of the public.

105.3         Councillor G. Theobald formally seconded the amendment and noted that he welcomed the additional changes proposed in the addendum following the discussion at the Policy & Resources Committee.

105.4         Councillor Meadows stated that she supported retaining the length of deputations to 5 minutes in the interest of fairness to the public.

105.5         Councillor C. Theobald stated that she supported the changes form the Policy & Resources Committee’ particularly those in relation to the Planning Committee and contrary to Officer recommendation decisions.

105.6         Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that the working group had suggested reducing the time to 3 minute for matters of consistency; however, he fully supported the proposed amendment.

105.7         Councillor Littman clarified that the administration accepted the amendment.

105.8         Before the votes were taken the Monitoring Officer corrected a discrepancy and clarified that deputations would require a minimum of 5 signatures and a maximum of 12.

105.9         The Mayor put the Conservative amendment to the vote and reported that this was agreed.

105.10    The Mayor then put the substantive recommendation, as amended to the vote and reported that this was agreed.

105.11    RESOLVED:

(1)         That the proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution recommended in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.11 and Appendices 1 to 6 of the report be approved and adopted from 1^st April 2014 subject to additional recommendation 2.5 – including the changes following discussion at the Policy & Resources Committee listed in the addendum.

(2)         That in 3.5 (ii), the maximum time for the presentation of deputations is kept at the current limit of 5 minutes.