Issue - meetings

(Director of Governance) To note the Terms of Reference and consider the Work Programme.(attached)

(a)          Terms of Reference

The Working Group noted its Terms of Reference.

(b)          Work Programme

There would be two items for consideration at the November Committee:

(i)            Item 8 Schedule of Delegation – Revision; and

(ii)           Item 9 Proposals for External Review

Item 10 regarding draft proposals would be put before the January 2016 meeting.

In addition, three extra items were added to the Work Programme, these were:

·         Issues raised from the forthcoming Development Management Chair and Vice-Chairman’s meeting.

·         Surveillance powers for the RIPA officer.

·         Amendments to the delegation rules regarding Estates.

(Director of Governance) To consider the attached report, Terms of Reference and Work Programme.

The Working Group received a progress report on the current review of the Constitution from the Assistant Director (Governance and Performance Management).

The recent scrutiny review undertaken by the recently disbanded Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Panel had resulted in the formation of this Working Group. Its Terms of Reference, approved by Council in April 2015, were to “complete a review of the Council’s Constitution by 31 March 2016 and recommend new arrangements accordingly.” Thereafter the Working Group would:

(a)  Review any aspect of the authority’s Constitutional arrangements as requested by the Council;

(b)  Undertake general reviews of specific elements of the Constitution to ensure that the authority’s Constitutional arrangements complemented current legislative requirements and decisions made by the Council; and

(c)  Consider any proposals of the Director of Governance for necessary revisions to any element of the Constitution.

The reporting procedure for the new Working Group would not be the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as previously but directly to Council.

The Working Group agreed their Terms of Reference and Work Programme.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the position statement regarding the Constitution Review be noted; and

(2)  That the Working Group’s Terms of Reference and Work Programme be noted.