Issue - meetings

Changes to the Constitution

Meeting: 21/02/2019 - Council (Item 98)

98 Changes to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 111 KB

To consider proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group.

 

RECOMMENDATION That Council agree the following changes to the Constitution as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group:

 

1)         that Section 4.2.9.7 Asking the Question at the Meeting and Section 5.4.31 Asking the Question at the meeting [Executive] be amended as set out in paragraph 1 of the report;

 

2)         that Section 4.2.11 Motions on Notice be amended as set out in paragraph 2 of the report;

 

3          that Section 3.5.4.2 Debating a Petition at a Council Meeting be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

4)         that Sections 6.3.29 Call In-6.3.36 Dispute be amended as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

 

5)         that Section 8.4 Licensing And Appeals Committee Procedure Rules be amended as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

 

6)         that Section 11 Officers be amended as set out in Appendix 4 to the report;

 

7)         that Sections 1.6.4 Authentication of Documents and 13.3.3.2 Table – Acceptance of Tenders and Signing of Contracts be amended as set out in paragraph 7 and Appendix 5 to the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered a report, set out on Agenda pages 213 to 270, relating to changes to the Constitution as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group.

 

Gary Cowan expressed concern about the proposed changes to Section 3.5.4.2 “Debating a Petition at a Council meeting” in relation to the 10 day deadline for the submission of a Motion linked to a petition.

 

Keith Baker stated that the proposed changes to Section 3.5.4.2 would increase transparency and openness. Councillor Baker felt that petitioners would be able to work with a nominated Member to amend the submitted Motion to reflect the Council debate.

 

Lindsay Ferris commented that the 10 day deadline could be given further consideration by the Constitution Review Working Group but the proposed changes relating to petitions should be implemented. If the changes did not make the process more effective, further amendments could be considered as necessary at a later date.

 

Andy Croy expressed concern that petitioners were generally not aware of the Council’s rules and procedures and it was important to ensure that they were given control over the Motion to be considered by Council.

 

Carl Doran expressed concern that the proposals relating to Section 6.3.29 “Call-In” could introduce a lengthy delay in the process for holding the Executive to account.

 

Chris Bowring stated that the Council’s Constitution was evolving over time. If any of the proposed changes did not achieve their stated aims, the issue/s could be given further consideration by the Constitution Review Working Group before discussion and agreement at full Council.

 

It was proposed by Julian McGhee-Sumner and seconded by Chris Bowring that the recommendations set out in the report be approved.

 

Prior to a vote being held, six Members, in accordance with Rule of Procedure 4.2.15.5, requested that a recorded vote be taken on the proposal.

 

The voting was as follows:

 

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAINED

Keith Baker

Gary Cowan

Rachel Burgess

Parry Batth

 

Andy Croy

Laura Blumenthal

 

Carl Doran

Chris Bowring

 

John Kaiser

Jenny Cheng

 

 

UllaKarin Clark

 

 

Richard Dolinski

 

 

Lindsay Ferris

 

 

Guy Grandison

 

 

Charlotte Haitham Taylor

 

 

John Halsall

 

 

David Hare

 

 

Pauline Helliar-Symons

 

 

Tim Holton

 

 

Philip Houldsworth

 

 

John Jarvis

 

 

Clive Jones

 

 

Norman Jorgensen

 

 

Pauline Jorgensen

 

 

Sarah Kerr

 

 

Dianne King

 

 

Abdul Loyes

 

 

Julian McGhee-Sumner

 

 

Ken Miall

 

 

Philip Mirfin

 

 

Stuart Munro

 

 

Anthony Pollock

 

 

Malcolm Richards

 

 

Angus Ross

 

 

Daniel Sargeant

 

 

Imogen Shepherd-Dubey

 

 

Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey

 

 

Chris Smith

 

 

Simon Weeks

 

 

Shahid Younis

 

 

 

Upon being put to the vote it was:

 

RESOLVED: That the following changes to the Constitution, as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group, be approved:

 

1)     that Section 4.2.9.7 “Asking the question at the meeting (Council) and Section 5.4.31 “Asking the question at the meeting (Executive) be amended as set out in Paragraph 1 of the report;

 

2)     that Section 4.2.11 “Motions on Notice” be amended as set out in Paragraph 2 of the report;

 

3)     that Section 3.5.4.2 “Debating a Petition at a Council meeting” be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

4)     that Sections 6.3.29 “Call-In” and 6.3.36 “Dispute” be amended as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98