Issue - items at meetings - Democracy In Action

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Governance Committee:

(i)         Supports the proposed amendments to Council Procedure Rules as set out in paragraphs 4.3 (closure motion moved by Mayor), 5.4 (Members’ Questions) 6.2 (Notices of Motion) and 8.2 (speaking times) and recommends to Council that they be approved.

(ii)       Agrees that, subject to Council approval, the changes come into force immediately after the Annual Council meeting in May 2010.

84.1         The Committee considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance concerning the current operation of the Council procedure rules and proposing amendments to improve the way Council meetings operate.

84.2         Councillor Randall reported that the Green Group were opposed to many of the proposals and were concerned that they would serve to stifle democracy. He explained that his Group would like to see an additional Full Council meeting added to the timetable. While he welcomed the proposals in relation to oral Member questions, he could not support the limit of Notices of Motion (NoMs), reduced speaking times and the closure motion.

84.3         Councillor Elgood advised that the Liberal Democrat Group was also opposed to many of the proposals; he felt that Members and officers should continue to look for a consensus.

84.4         Councillor Mitchell stated that the Labour Group supported the recommendations and in particular that the limit on NoMs seemed adequate. She was interested to see how the changes to oral questions the operation of the closure motion would work in practice.

84.5         Councillor Mears explained that she had initially been concerned about the closure motion, but was happy to see how it worked. She added that it would be interesting to find out how all the proposals worked and what impact they would have.

84.6         The Chairman stated that it would be for the Full Council to vote on whether the meeting would be closed. He added that monitoring of any agreed changes would be key.

84.7         In response to concerns from Councillor Taylor concerning the decision to take the report to Full Council earlier than previously stated, the Chairman explained that the report had been considered by the Leaders Group and been consulted upon for three months; there was no reason to hold the report back when two others from the meeting would go to the March Full Council meeting.

84.8         The Head of Law advised that the limit on NoMs and changes to oral questions and speaking times should serve to make meetings shorter and more efficient, and therefore potentially negate the need to operate the closure motion.

84.9         RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Committee:

(i)           Supports the proposed amendments to Council Procedure Rules as set out in paragraphs 4.3 (closure motion moved by Mayor), 5.4 (Members’ Questions) 6.2 (Notices of Motion) and 8.2 (speaking times) and recommends to Council that they be approved.

(ii)         Agrees that, subject to Council approval, the changes come into force immediately after the Annual Council meeting in May 2010.