Agenda item

To provide the first tranche of suggested constitutional changes to the committee for consideration and discussion. Annex 1 provides the clean version of the Council Procedure Rules and Annex 2 provides the consolidated comments. (Annex 2 to follow).

[See also under Part B]

Members considered a report that provided the first tranche of suggested constitutional changes to the committee for consideration and discussion.

The Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer confirmed that he had sought the views of the Labour Group, Liberal Democrat Group, Conservative Group, and Councillor Warters in respect of the proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules protocol.  Following receipt of comments, a consolidated table, together with clarifications from the Monitoring Officer, had been devised and published as an agenda supplement.

The committee discussed the collated comments received, noting that:

·        Paragraphs 1.2, 4.3 (a) and 5.1 had been accepted by all Groups.

·        The revisions made to paragraphs 9.3, 10.11, 13.1, B3 1 (m), B11 2 (m), B12 2, B13 1, B13 3 had been circulated and accepted.

·        Paragraphs 9.1, B8, B9, B10, B11, B10 1, B10 2, B10 3, B10 7, B13 (10,11 & 12), B12 1, B17 2 had been accepted subject to incorporating the agreed amendments.

·        Paragraphs B3 1 and B13 3 (f) had been agreed by all Groups but the committee had further comments to make when also discussing the points of contention in paragraphs 4.3 (c), 7.2, 10.8, 10.9, 11.3, B 7 1, B 11 2 (o).

Following further discussion, the committee reached a consensus on the points of disagreement as below, which would be endorsed to Full Council along with the agreed proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules:

·        The proposed amendments to paragraphs 4.3 (c), 7.2, 10.9, 11.3 and B11 2 (o) should not be accepted.

·        The Liberal Democratic Group were content with the position set out in paragraph 10.8 following the latest exchange with the Leader.

·        All Groups were content with reducing the time allowed for the Opposition Group Leaders to respond (B 7 1). 

·        B3 1 to be amended to 35 minutes and revisited if required.

·        Change wording from ‘must’ to ‘should, where possible,’ in paragraph B13 3 (f).

The committee noted that it was not a legal requirement to send the summons to all Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen and following discussion, the committee agreed that they should be informed annually on the dates of Full Council.

The Constitution Working Group and all political Groups were thanked for their contributions and the Director of Governance explained that following discussion with Group Leaders, there was a proposal for a revised way of the Constitution Working Group operating to help streamline and reach a conclusion faster. This process would involve the Director of Governance preparing a revised draft of part of the Constitution, which would then be circulated to the Constitution Working Group.  Members of the Constitution Working Group would then refer the revised draft to their Groups for key points of agreement and disagreement, and would then convene to complete revisions to the document before referring the matter to Audit and Governance Committee for endorsement and onward referral to Council.

Resolved: 

(i)           That the proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules be considered and endorsed, other than the points of contention, and remit those changes to the meeting of Full Council on 21 November 2024 for approval.

(ii)         That the points of contention be considered and remitted as above to the meeting of Full Council on 21 November 2024 for decision.

(iii)        That all Honorary Aldermen and Alderwomen be informed annually on the dates of Full Council.

(iv)        That the future process for constitutional revisions be agreed.  

Reason: To allow council to determine the proposed constitutionalchanges.