Agenda item

Changes to the Constitution

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

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That the following changes, as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group, be agreed:

 

1)         the amended start and finish times for Council meetings and amendments to Sections 4.2.8 Duration of Meeting, 4.2.8.1 Consideration of Motions and 4.2.12 m) Motions without Notice as set out in paragraph 1 of the report; (Please note that at the request of the Constitution Review Working Group this recommendation will be voted on separately)

 

2)         the following changes to the Constitution, as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group:

 

            a)        that Section 2.2.5.1 Basic Allowance be amended as set out in paragraph 2 of the report;

 

            b)        that Sections 4.2.9.1  General, 4.2.10.4  Notice of Questions [Member Questions], 5.2.25 Questions by the Public [to the Executive] and 5.4.36 Rules of Procedure for Questions by Members, be amended as set out in paragraph 3 of the report;

 

            c)         that Sections 4.2.9.9  Written Answers [Questions by the Public], 4.2.10.6  Response [Questions by Members], 5.4.34 Response [Member Questions to the Executive] and 5.4.38 Response [Public Questions to Executive], be amended as set out in paragraph 4 of the report;

 

            d)        that Sections 4.2.12 h) Motions without Notice, 4.2.13.1 No speeches until Motion seconded, 4.2.13.7 Amendments to Motions and 4.2.13.11 b) Motions which may be moved during debate, be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

            e)        that Section 4.2.8.1  Consideration of motions be amended as set out in paragraph 9 of the report;

 

            f)         that Section 4.2.13.4  Content and Length of Speeches be amended as set out in paragraph 10 of the report;

 

            g)        that Section 4.4.22 [Wokingham Borough Wellbeing Board] Terms of Reference be amended as set out in paragraph 11 of the report;

 

            h)        that Sections 5.5.1 List of Items Delegated to Individual Executive Member Decisions and 12.1.17.3  Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 Developer Contributions be amended as set out in paragraph 12 of the report;

 

            i)          that Section 13.2.2 – Estimating Contract Value be amended as set out in paragraph 13 of the report;

 

            j)          that Section 13.3.1.1 Procurement Business Case (including options appraisal) be amended as set out in paragraph 14 of the report;

 

            k)         that Sections 5.5.1 g List of Items Delegated to Individual Executive Members and 13.3.1.1  Procurement Business Case (including options appraisal) be amended as set out in paragraph 15 of the report;

 

            l)          that Sections 13.3.2.2  Schedule 3 and 13.3.2.1 be amended as set out in paragraph 16 of the report and Appendix 2 to the report.

Minutes:

The Council considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 173 to 194, which gave details of proposed changes to the Constitution as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group.

 

It was proposed by Chris Smith and seconded by John Halsall that the proposed change to Paragraph 4.2.8.1 (Consideration of motions), set out at Paragraph 9 of the report, be amended by deleting the words: “A Closure Motion (4.2.13.12) cannot be used if this process is followed”.

 

On being put to the vote, the Mayor confirmed that the amendment was approved.

 

In relation to Recommendation 1 of the report – amended start and finish times for Council meetings – Members debated the potential impact of an earlier (7pm) start for Council meetings. These included negative impacts for Members with young families and positive impacts for Members who had to rise early the following morning in order to commute to work in London.

 

It was proposed by Chris Smith and seconded by John Halsall that the recommendations in the report, as amended, be approved.

 

The Mayor reminded Members that Recommendation 1 of the report would be subject to a separate vote.

 

On being put to the vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED That:

 

1)         the amended start and finish times for Council meetings and amendments to Sections 4.2.8 Duration of Meeting, 4.2.8.1 Consideration of Motions and 4.2.12 m) Motions without Notice, as set out in paragraph 1 of the report, be not approved;

 

2)         the following changes to the Constitution, as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group, be approved:

 

a)    Section 2.2.5.1 Basic Allowance be amended as set out in paragraph 2 of the report;

 

b)    Sections 4.2.9.1  General, 4.2.10.4  Notice of Questions [Member Questions], 5.2.25 Questions by the Public [to the Executive] and 5.4.36 Rules of Procedure for Questions by Members, be amended as set out in paragraph 3 of the report;

 

c)    Sections 4.2.9.9  Written Answers [Questions by the Public], 4.2.10.6  Response [Questions by Members], 5.4.34 Response [Member Questions to the Executive] and 5.4.38 Response [Public Questions to Executive], be amended as set out in paragraph 4 of the report;

 

d)    Sections 4.2.12 h) Motions without Notice, 4.2.13.1 No speeches until Motion seconded, 4.2.13.7 Amendments to Motions and 4.2.13.11 b) Motions which may be moved during debate, be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

e)    Section 4.2.8.1  Consideration of motions be amended as set out in paragraph 9 of the report, as amended at the meeting;

 

f)     Section 4.2.13.4  Content and Length of Speeches be amended as set out in paragraph 10 of the report;

 

g)    Section 4.4.22 [Wokingham Borough Wellbeing Board] Terms of Reference be amended as set out in paragraph 11 of the report;

 

h)    Sections 5.5.1 List of Items Delegated to Individual Executive Member Decisions and 12.1.17.3  Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 Developer Contributions be amended as set out in paragraph 12 of the report;

 

i)     Section 13.2.2 – Estimating Contract Value be amended as set out in paragraph 13 of the report;

 

j)     Section 13.3.1.1 Procurement Business Case (including options appraisal) be amended as set out in paragraph 14 of the report;

 

k)    Section 5.5.1 g List of Items Delegated to Individual Executive Members and 13.3.1.1 Procurement Business case (including options appraisal) be amended as set out in paragraph 15 of the report;

 

l)     Sections 13.3.2.2 Schedule 3 and 13.3.2.1 be amended as set out in paragraph 16 of the report and Appendix 2 to the report.

Supporting documents: