Agenda item - Six Month Review of the Constitution

Extract from the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 10 March 2009 (copy attached).

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

1.     That the proposals set out at paragraph 4 of the report, save those reserved to Full Council for decision, be adopted.

2.     That the extract from the proceedings of the Governance Committee held on 10 March 2009 be noted.

214.1         The Cabinet considered an extract from the proceedings of the Governance Committee held on 10 March 2009 concerning the outcome of the six month review of the Council’s Constitution and proposed amendments (for copy see minute book).

214.2         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the proposed changes and felt that the review had gone further than the ‘light touch’ promised and had accepted comments from a number of parties. She added that work needed to be done around public engagement to simplify processes and make members of the public aware of how to engage in decision-making.

214.3         The Chairman assured Councillor Mitchell that she would write to Councillor McCaffery regarding her concerns around the current lack of reporting route for equalities issues.

214.4         RESOLVED - That, having considered the extract and the reasons set out in the original report, the Cabinet noted the extract and accepted the following recommendation:

(1)       That the proposals set out at paragraph 4 of the report, save those reserved to Full Council for decision, be adopted.