Decision details

The Monitoring Officer, Jessica Farmer, and Head of Governance, Andrew Charlwood, presented a report which detailed proposed amendments to the Constitution. 

An addendum had been tabled which set out further amendments and clarifications which had been published and circulated to the Committee. 

In relation to item 8 (relating to Article 7, Section 7.3), it was agreed that this should be reviewed after one year to ensure that there had been no issues of this operating in practice.

In relation to item 21 (relating to Article 7, Section 7.19), it was agreed that officers should work with Councillor Cooke to develop some revised wording to bring to the October meeting of the Committee for consideration.

In relation to item 22 (relating to Article 7, Section 7.10), it was agreed that this should be reviewed after one year to ensure that there were no ongoing issues relating to the operation of this arrangement.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Recommend to Council on 26 July 2022 that the Constitution be amended to incorporate the changes set out in this report and the amended versions attached within at Appendices A to J and the published addendum.

2.    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Committee, to draft proposed amendments to Article 3 (Residents and Public Participation) to revise section 3.2 to:

Ø  Allow residents to submit any number of written questions on substantive agenda items at committees;

Ø  Publication of all written questions submitted;

Ø  A 30-minute period at each committee to enable residents to obtain responses to as many of the questions as time allows and to ask an oral supplementary;

Ø  To alternate responses to questions from residents at the meeting to ensure each resident has an opportunity to ask questions; and

Ø  Responses to any questions that are not dealt with during the 30-minute period to be at the discretion of the Chair to respond to in writing after the meeting

with the proposed amendments being reported to the next meeting of Council on 26 July 2022.