Decision details

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Services, which sought approval for the constitutional changes required to enable the Council to implement a revised system of governance, Executive Arrangements (the Cabinet System), from 17 May 2022.

The Full Council resolved to adopt a Leader and Cabinet style of governance with implementation to take effect from May 2022. A working group was tasked to formulate how the new governance arrangements would operate and the final design and structure of the new system was presented and approved by the Full Council on 8 March 2022.

A complete version of the proposed Constitution was published as a separate appendix to the report. The refinements to the Constitution since the 8 March version considered by the Council were highlighted. The Leader of the Council asked that an amendment be made to remove the restrictions on membership for the Planning, Licensing and General Purposes Committees, to enable Cabinet Members to be appointed.

AGREED           (unanimously) that:

(a)               the Council adopts the revised Constitution as attached as an appendix to the report, subject to removing the restrictions of memberships for the Planning, Licensing and General Purposes Committees to enable Cabinet Members to be appointed, with immediate effect, with the exception of the Full Council Procedure Rules which will take effect from 18 May 2022;

(b)               all sub-delegations to Officers effective prior to the meeting of Full Council remain in full effect during a transitional period while the necessary updates are implemented by Officers, and in respect of planning delegations in particular until a revised Scheme of Delegation is adopted by the Council’s Planning Committee; and

(c)                a further report be brought to Audit & Governance    Committee in six months’ time to review the revised governance arrangements and consider whether any changes are necessary.