Agenda item - Constitutional Matters - Policy Resources & Growth Committee

Report of the Executive Lead Strategy Governance & Law (copy attached)

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(i)            That the committee’s terms of reference, as set out in Appendix A to the report be noted, and the Constitutional Working Group should explore:

-       Recruiting a non-voting co-optee to the new Policy & Resources Committee from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Community with the necessary further changes to the City Council’s constitution needed through this;

(ii)          That the establishment of an Urgency Sub-Committee consisting of the Chair of the Committee and two other Members (nominated in accordance with the scheme for the allocation of seats for committees), to exercise its powers in relation to matters of urgency, on which it is necessary to make a decision before the next ordinary meeting of the Committee be approved;

(iii)         That a Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of Policy, Resources and Growth Committee be established to deal with dismissal and grievance matters in accordance with the Council’s constitution and HR Procedures.

7.1       The Committee considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which provided information on this Committee’s Terms of Reference and related matters including the appointment of its Urgency Sub Committee.

7.2       Councillors Mears and Shanks referred to the use of Urgency Sub Committees and noted that the Committee system was used to ensure an open and democratic process for discussing items and were concerned that the use of Sub Committees which were held in private did not do that. The Monitoring Officer said that Urgency Sub Committees were held under the same rules as all committees and would be held in public unless there was a Part Two item.

7.3       Councillor Clare asked why the Committee was called the Policy Resources and Growth Committee. She said that there was a climate emergency and you couldn’t have infinite growth with finite resources at the same time as taking steps to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. The Monitoring Officer said that only Full Council could change the name of a committee. He said there was a report on the constitution due to be considered at the next Full Council meeting and if there were cross party support there could be an officer amendment, or there could be a group amendment, to the recommendations in that report to change the title of this committee.

7.3       The Chair noted that there was an amendment from the Green Group and asked Councillor Clare to propose it.

7.4       Councillor Clare noted that although there were  a relatively high number of women on this Committee, there was no representation from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community and so not representative of the City. The amendment requested that the Constitutional Working Group explore appointing a non-voting co-optee from the BAME community to this committee. Councillor Clare formally proposed the following amendment (changes in bold):

2.1         That the committee’s terms of reference, as set out in Appendix A to this report, be noted; and that the Constitutional Working Group should explore:
- recruiting a non-voting co-optee to the new Policy & Resources Committee from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Community with the necessary further changes to the City Council’s constitution needed through this;

          2.2        That the establishment of an Urgency Sub-Committee consisting of the Chair of the Committee and two other Members (nominated in accordance with the scheme for the allocation of seats for committees), to exercise its powers in relation to matters of urgency, on which it is necessary to make a decision before the next ordinary meeting of the Committee be approved.

2.3      That a Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of Policy, Resources & Growth Committee be established to deal with dismissal and grievance matters in accordance with the Council’s constitution and HR Procedures.

7.5       Councillor Mac Cafferty formally seconded the amendment.

7.6       Councillors Mears agreed with the sentiment of the amendment but suggested that other minority groups may also want to be represented through a non-voting co-optee.

7.7      Councillor Yates agreed with the amendment, and also understood Councillor Mear’s concerns, and said that it would be good for the Constitutional Working Group to review it.

7.8       The Committee voted on the Green Group amendment and it was agreed.

7.9       RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(i)            That the committee’s terms of reference, as set out in Appendix A to the report be noted, and the Constitutional Working Group should explore:

-       Recruiting a non-voting co-optee to the new Policy & Resources Committee from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Community with the necessary further changes to the City Council’s constitution needed through this;

(ii)          That the establishment of an Urgency Sub-Committee consisting of the Chair of the Committee and two other Members (nominated in accordance with the scheme for the allocation of seats for committees), to exercise its powers in relation to matters of urgency, on which it is necessary to make a decision before the next ordinary meeting of the Committee be approved;

(iii)         That a Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of Policy, Resources and Growth Committee be established to deal with dismissal and grievance matters in accordance with the Council’s constitution and HR Procedures.