Decisions for issue Review of the Council's Constitution 2014

105.1         Councillor Littman introduced the report that had been referred from the Policy & Resources Committee on 20 March 2014 to the Council for approval. He thanked Councillors Peltzer Dunn and Morgan who had also been on the Constructional Working Group, and highlighted the proposed changes as set out in the report.

105.2         Councillor Mears proposed the amendment, as listed in the addendum, on behalf of the Conservative Group and stated that the proposal to retain the time period for deputation to 5 minutes was considered to be open and transparent for members of the public.

105.3         Councillor G. Theobald formally seconded the amendment and noted that he welcomed the additional changes proposed in the addendum following the discussion at the Policy & Resources Committee.

105.4         Councillor Meadows stated that she supported retaining the length of deputations to 5 minutes in the interest of fairness to the public.

105.5         Councillor C. Theobald stated that she supported the changes form the Policy & Resources Committee’ particularly those in relation to the Planning Committee and contrary to Officer recommendation decisions.

105.6         Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that the working group had suggested reducing the time to 3 minute for matters of consistency; however, he fully supported the proposed amendment.

105.7         Councillor Littman clarified that the administration accepted the amendment.

105.8         Before the votes were taken the Monitoring Officer corrected a discrepancy and clarified that deputations would require a minimum of 5 signatures and a maximum of 12.

105.9         The Mayor put the Conservative amendment to the vote and reported that this was agreed.

105.10    The Mayor then put the substantive recommendation, as amended to the vote and reported that this was agreed.

105.11    RESOLVED:

(1)         That the proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution recommended in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.11 and Appendices 1 to 6 of the report be approved and adopted from 1^st April 2014 subject to additional recommendation 2.5 – including the changes following discussion at the Policy & Resources Committee listed in the addendum.

(2)         That in 3.5 (ii), the maximum time for the presentation of deputations is kept at the current limit of 5 minutes.

(1)               That the proposed changes to officer delegations set out at paragraphs 3.13 to 3.15 and Appendices 7 (a) to (c) of the report and that the changes come into effect on 1^st April 2014 be approved;

(2)               That the Chief Executive be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to the implementation of the changes agreed by Policy & Resources Committee and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend and re-publish the Council’s constitutional documents to incorporate all the changes referred to at  (1 )above;

(3)               That the proposed changes to the Council’s constitution as set out in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.11 and Appendices1 to 6 of the report be recommended to the Full Council for approval;

(4)               That the Full Council approve the proposed changes to the Council’s constitution recommended in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.11 and Appendices 1 to 6 of the report be approved and adopted from 1^st April 2014;

(5)               That the Full Council authorise the Chief Executive to take all steps necessary or incidental to the implementation of the changes agreed by Council and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend and re-publish the Council’s constitutional documents to incorporate all the changes referred to at (4) above.