Audit and Governance Committee

14 October 2024

Report of the Director of Governance

Report of the Monitoring Officer on Suggested Constitutional Changes

 

Summary

 

1.           To provide the first tranche of suggested constitutional changes to the committee for consideration and discussion.


Background

 

2.           Members will recall that, at its meeting on 4 September 2024, the committee resolved to seek the views of Group Leaders in respect of the proposed changes to the Constitution, as agreed by the Constitution Working Group.

 

3.           Following that meeting, and as agreed by the Committee, the ‘clean’ version of the revised Council Procedure Rules was sent to all Group Leaders, and Councillor Warters (who, as an Independent, is not a member of any Group) on 9 September 2024.  As agreed by the Committee, comments were requested from the recipients by the close of business on 27 September 2024.

 

4.           Following receipt of comments from Councillor Warters and the Liberal Democrat Group, a consolidated table of the comments, together with clarifications from the Monitoring Officer, were circulated to Group Leaders and Councillor Warters on 30 September. 

 

5.           A discussion then took place at the Group Leaders meeting on 3 October 2024 as to the way forward.  At that meeting, it was agreed that final points of disagreement would be provided by the close of business on 4 October 2024, for subsequent circulation to the Committee.  These will be circulated on Monday, 7 October 2024.

 

6.           The following procedure for considering the amendments therefore proposed:

 

a.           The Committee notes the points of disagreement;

b.           The Committee agrees to all proposed changes in the Council Procedure Rules other than the points of disagreement, and to endorse them to Council;

c.           The Committee votes to refer the points of disagreement to Council for its decision.

 

7.    Implications

 

Financial – None directly arising from this report.

 

Human Resources (HR) – None directly arising from this report.

 

Equalities – None directly arising from this report.

 

Legal – None directly arising from this report.

 

Crime and Disorder, Information Technology and Property – None directly arising from this report.

 

Recommendations

 

8.           It is recommended that Members:

 

a)           Consider and endorse the proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules other than the points of contention, and remits those changes to the meeting of Full Council on 21 November 2024 for approval;
 
b)           Considers and remits the points of contention to the meeting of Full Council on 21 November 2024 for decision.


Reasons for the Recommendation

 

9.           To allow Council to determine the proposed Constitutional changes.

 

 

 

 



Author and Chief Officer responsible for the report:

 

Bryn Roberts, Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer

bryn.roberts@york.gov.uk

 

 

Report Approved

ü

Date

4 October 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Wards Affected:  List wards or tick box to indicate all

All

X

 

For further information please contact the author of the report


Background Papers:

·        None

 

Annexes:

·        Annex 1 – Council Procedure Rules – Clean Version

·        Annex 2 – Consolidated Comments  (to follow)