Agenda item

The Committee considered the report from the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer with proposals for amendments to the Council’s Constitution following consideration by an informal Audit & Governance Committee working party.

Amendments and updates endorsed by this Committee will be recommended to Full Council for approval at the Annual Meeting in May and the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel will be asked to undertake a review in respect of any changes in Committee Terms of Reference.

The Committee noted training on procedure rules for Members in June, and an addition to Appendix I was circulated at the meeting with additional wording for the Acquisitions and Disposals Policy:

2.5.3    Where it is decided to negotiate a disposal to a single party (identified by paragraph 2.5.2) rather than offer it on the open market then this needs to be referred to in any decision.  When negotiations take place with the interested party in order to reach an agreed sale price and the provisions of paragraph 2.7.1 still apply.

AGREED (unanimously) that Audit & Governance Committee:

(a)   recommends the Constitutional amendments set out in Appendices A, B, E, G, I and J to Full Council for approval;

(b)   endorses the adoption of templates for motions and amendments as illustrated in Appendices C and D subject to approval by Full Council of the relevant amendments to Full Council Procedure Rules:

(c)   recommends a reduction in membership of Audit & Governance Committee to 9 members to Full Council for approval;

(d)   endorses amendments to arrangements for Audit & Governance as set out in paragraph 2.9 of the report;

(e)   request that Officers explore options for more regular meetings with the auditors to assist with Audit & Governance Committee Member development;

(f)    recommends that Policy & Performance Improvement Committee re-issues guidance to all Members as set out in paragraph 2.11 of the report;

(g)   updates its work programme to include feedback at least annually on meetings between the Chair and Vice Chair of this Committee, and the Chair and Vice Chair of Policy & Performance Improvement Committee;

(h)   recommends the addition of ’Principal Legal Officer’ to the list of Officers with authority to seal legal documents on behalf of the Council, to Full Council for approval; and

(i)     approves the review of the sections of the Constitution set out in paragraph 2.26 of the report, with any proposals for amendment being brought to this Committee as soon as practicable.