Agenda item

(a)   Report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(b)   Reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (if any); and

(c)   Reports of Overview and Scrutiny Panels:

(i)                  Report of the Constitution and Members’ Services Scrutiny Panel – Appointments at Annual Council Meeting – Review;

(ii)                Report of the Constitution and Members’ Services Scrutiny Panel – Housing Appeals and Review Panel – Terms of Reference

(iii)               Report of the Constitution and Members’ Services Scrutiny Panel – Review of Financial Regulations

(iv)              Report of the Constitution and Members’ Services Scrutiny Panel – Officer Delegation – 2011/12 Review.

(a)        Report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Council received a written report from Councillor Bassett, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(b)       Reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Chairman announced that there were no reports to be considered under this item.

(c)        Reports of Overview and Scrutiny Panels

(i)         Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Panel – Appointments at Annual Council meeting – Review

Mover:  Councillor Stallan, Chairman of the Panel

Councillor Stallan submitted a report of the Panel following a review of the operation of the new Appointments Panel set up last year.

Report as first moved ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            (1)        That the Appointments Panel continue to operate without changes to its terms of reference and continue in operation thereafter until any further review is necessary;

            (2)        That the Protocol on the Allocation of Chairmanships and Vice-Chairmanships and Outside Organisations (expect for Sections 6(a) to (c) in the Protocol – the provision for pro-rata for chairmen) be suspended for a further period of one year and then reviewed;

            (3)        That Article 5 of the Constitution (in relation to the nomination of the Vice Chairman appointment to Council) be amended by the inclusion of the following words at the end of Article 5.02(c) “and notified each year to the Appointments Panel for consideration and onward recommendation to the Annual Council meeting”; and

            (4)        That meetings of the Appointments Panel be held on 10 and 15 May 2012 (if necessary).

(ii)        Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Panel – Housing Appeals and Review Panel – Terms of Reference

Mover:  Councillor Stallan, Chairman of the Panel

Councillor Stallan submitted a report following a review of two aspects of the Housing Appeals and Review Panel’s terms of reference: the order of presentation at Panel meetings and the exclusion of appeals against banding decisions under the Housing Allocations Scheme.

Report as first moved ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            (1)        That the existing order of proceedings at meetings of the Housing Appeals and Review Panel be retained but a new paragraph (to be numbered (7)) be added to the Panel’s terms of reference as follows:

            “(7)      If requested by the appellant/applicant or their representative, the Chairman may agree to (6)(b)–(d) taking place after (e)–(g) and to (h) and (i) being reversed”, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly;

            (2)        That the appellant/applicant be informed prior to the meeting of their right to change the order of presentation if wanted, as set out in (1) above;

            (3)        That the arrangements set out in (1) above be reviewed after six months; and

            (4)        That paragraph 1(i) (relating to the banding of an applicant, in accordance with the Housing Allocations Scheme in being at the time of the decision) be removed from the terms of reference of the Housing Appeals and Review Panel and the Constitution be amended accordingly.

(iii)       Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Panel – Review of Financial Regulations

Mover:  Councillor Stallan, Chairman of the Panel

Councillor Stallan submitted a report of the Panel following a review of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

Report as first moved ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            That the schedule of amendments to Financial Regulations as set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes be approved and pages G9-11 be deleted from the Constitution.

(iv)      Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Panel – Officer Delegation – 2011/12 Review

Mover:  Councillor Stallan, Chairman of the Panel

Councillor Stallan submitted a report of the Panel following a review of officer delegation.

Report as first moved ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            (1)        That the schedule of changes to Council delegation as set out in  Appendix 2 to these minutes be approved; and

            (2)        That changes to executive delegations to be incorporated in the Constitution, once these have been signed off by the Leader of the Council be noted.