Agenda item

A report from Councillor Tahir Rafiq, Cabinet Member, Corporate Affairs and HR is attached.

ANNEXES

1.      ContentsV6 and Part 1 - Introduction to the Constitution V5 – Document Pack page 37

2.      Part 2 - Articles V13 – Document Pack page 43

3.      Part 3 Section 1 V5 – Document Pack page 69

4.      Part 3 (Sections 3 , 4 and 5) Responsibility for Committee Functions V13, Cabinet Functions V7 ; and Scrutiny Functions V4 including a new Employment Panel, Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee; Safeguarding Scrutiny Sub-Committee ; - Document Pack page 77

5.      Part 3 – Officer Scheme of Delegation V5 – Document Pack page 99

6.      Part 4 – Council Procedure Rules ( Standing Orders ) V12 – Document Pack page 103

7.      Part 4 – Cabinet Procedure Rules V6 – Document Pack page 125

8.      Part 4 – Scrutiny Procedure Rules V7 – Document Pack page 131

9.      Part 5 – Public Participation Protocol V5 – Document Pack page 145

10.    Part 8 - Covid-19 Interim Arrangements V3 – Document Pack page 153

11.    Member Development Strategy 2020/22.V1 Final – Document Pack page 159.

Equality   Impact Assessment V 2 – Document pack page 165

It was moved by Councillor Rafiq and seconded by Councillor O’Brien and it was:-

RESOLVED:

That: Council notes the:

1.    Work of the Democratic Arrangements Forum in reviewing the Constitution and proposing revisions in line with the Technical Review to ensure legal compliance; 

2.    Member Survey results set out at section 4 of this report;

3.    Work of the Member Development Group in recommending a new Member Development Strategy.

4.    Work to update Financial Regulations and Contract Procedure Rules and Council to agree to delegate authority to agree future revisions to the Audit Committee.

5.    New Part 3 Section 6 – Additional Arrangements which sets out the role of the DAF and the Independent Remuneration Panel.

6.    New Part 7 – Cabinet Portfolios, membership of committees and the Council’s Management Structure which will be a useful guide to who does what.

That: Council agrees to adopt the:

7.    Contents and Part 1 - Introduction to the Constitution at Annex 1;

8.    Revised Part 2 - Articles at  Annex 2;

9.    Revised Part 3 Section 1 Council Functions at Annex 3 and the Local Choice   Functions described at paragraph 12.1 of this report;

10.Revised Part 3 (Sections 3, 4 and 5) Responsibility for Committee, Cabinet and Scrutiny Functions at Annex 4 including a new definition of key decision; a new Employment Panel, Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee and Safeguarding Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

11.Proposal that Committees comprise 9 (Audit and Standards) or 11 members.                                               

12.Revised Part 3 - Officer Scheme of Delegation at Annex 5;

13.Revised Part 4 - Council Procedure Rules ( Standing Orders ) at Annex 6;

14.Revised Part 4 - Cabinet Procedure Rules at Annex 7;

15.Revised Part 4 - Scrutiny Procedure Rules at Annex 8;

16.New Part 5 - Public Guidance Protocol at Annex 9;

17.Covid-19 Interim Arrangements at Annex 10;

18.Member Development Strategy 2020/23 set out at Annex 11 ;

That Council agrees to :

19.Implement the proposed changes to the Constitution in two phases with Parts 1,2 4,5 and 7 coming in to force on 1 January 2021 and changes to Part 3 – Responsibility for Functions ( Committee Terms of Reference ) save for new  Audit Committee terms of reference , coming into force at the annual council meeting in May 2021.

20.Authorise the Interim Monitoring Officer to publish a final version of the Constitution (removing track changes, correct numbering, editing or formatting errors) and including the minor updates to Part 3: Council and Local Functions described at paragraph 12.1 and the Access to Information Rules described in paragraphs 13.6 and 13.9, with a version history, Glossary and Index. 

21.Request a DAF review of the Overview and Scrutiny function in early 2021 to ensure better alignment with corporate priorities and partnership arrangements.