Agenda item - Review of the Constitution (March) 2013

Extract from the proceedings of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on the 21^st March 2013 (to be circulated), together with a report of the Interim Lead for the Chief Executive’s Service (copy attached).

110.1          The Leader of the Council introduced the report and noted that the review had been delayed with the agreement of the Group Leaders to take account of the appointment of the Chief Executive.  He wished to place on record his appreciation of the work by officers to enable the new committee system to be implemented with effect from last May and to thank the Members of the Working Group in helping to develop the new constitution.  He stated that the current review tidied up aspects and took account of the changes in the officer structure and that of the committees, which resulted in the combining of the Environment & Sustainability and Transport Committees.  Something which he did not support but recognised was the intent of the other two Groups.  He also welcomed the change for the Corporate Parenting Sub-Committee to become a Board and noted that both he as Leader and the Chief Executive intended to play an active role on the Board in recognition of the importance of the council’s role as a corporate parent.

110.2          Councillor Peltzer Dunn welcomed the Leader’s comments and the report and stated that he wished to commend the officers for their work in enabling the council to move to the committee system as smoothly as it had.  He noted that it would take time for the new system to bed-in and that regular reviews should be undertaken to ensure that the new constitution reflected the council’s decision-making process and structure.

110.3          Councillor Morgan also welcomed the report and stated that he would have liked to have taken it through the Members Working Group and to have asked all Members for their comments on how it was working.  He hoped that the next review would take on board some of the ideas expressed at the recent ‘City Camp’ event and as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee he reminded council of the ability to refer matters for policy development to the scrutiny process as a means of supporting the committees in their work.

110.4          The Leader of the Council noted the comments and stated that he was happy to ensure that the ideas raised at the City Camp were considered as part of the next review and noted the point about asking scrutiny to take a forward looking role on behalf of committees.

110.5          The Mayor then put the recommendations to the vote.

110.6          RESOLVED:

(1)         That the amended constitution documents set out at Appendix 1 (being those relating to committees, sub-committees and advisory bodies) be approved;

(2)         That the changes to the constitution summarised at paragraphs 3.4to 3.26 and 3.28 to 3.32 of the report and related documents set out in Appendix 2 be approved;

(3)         That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make consequential amendments as are considered necessary to give effect to the changes agreed at paragraphs 2.1 to 2.3 above;

(4)         That the Chief Executive be authorised to take any steps necessary to implementation of the changes agreed in the report;

(5)         That the Executive Director for Finance & Resources be authorised to make appropriate amendments to Financial Regulations and Standards Financial Procedures to reflect the Officer restructure and the changes relating to the corporate landlord function; and

(6)         That the amendments to the constitution set out in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.6 should come into effect immediately after the conclusion of annual Council on 23 May 2013, except any amendments relating to the terms of reference of the Health & Wellbeing Board and the Financial Regulations and Standards Financial Procedure, which should come into effect on 1^st April 2013.