Issue - meetings

In accordance with notice duly given under Procedure Rule 4, Councillor A S Fluker to move the following Motions, duly seconded by Councillor K M H Lagan.

Motion One:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that in the event of the Chairman of the Council refusing to accept any one of Motions One to Eight the reasons why and the subject of the motions are reported by him to Council on 30^th March 2023.

Motion Two:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that Part 4 Rules of Procedure Rule 1(m) be annulled and is replaced with the following words “Questions (which may be made without notice) to the Leader of the Council (or in his/her absence the Deputy Leader) for a maximum of 15 minutes at all meetings with the exception of the annual budget meeting.

Motion Four:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that Part 4 Rules of Procedure, Regulation of business and duration of meetings Rule (6) be annulled and is replaced with the following words). “Other than with the agreement of the Council (or where appropriate its committees and Sub-Committees) all business shall cease at 10pm”

Motion Five:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that from the start of the new Administration in May 2023 that during the period of BST (British Summer Time) Council (and its Committee’s and Sub-Committees) commence meetings at 7.30pm and that during the period of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Council (and its Committee’s and Sub-Committees) commence meetings at 7.00pm

Motion Six:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that from the start of the new Administration in May 2023 the Strategy and Resources and Performance Governance and Audit Committees meet subject to business being available to consider eight times per municipal year.

Motion Eight:

That at its meeting on 30^th March 2023 Council resolves to agree that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviews the Procurement Exemption published at Agenda Item 18 paragraph 3.5.1 of the Strategy and Resources Committee Meeting 26th January 2023.

Further detail submitted with the above Motions is attached.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4, the Chairman informed the Council of the receipt of six Motions which had been duly proposed by Councillor A S Fluker and seconded as set out on the agenda.

The Chairman advised that he had decided to disallow Motion 6 (as set out on the agenda) under the six month rule and provided Members with further details regarding his decision.

The Chairman then referred to the Senior Specialist: Legal to provide the Council with further information as to why Motions 3 and 7 had not been accepted.  The Senior Specialist: Legal referred to part four of the Constitution, specifically sections 5.11 and 7.1 which made it clear that Members could not take part in the recruitment or management of Officers below Director level.  The working arrangements of staff were an operation matter, dealt with via delegation to the Head of Paid Service.  She went on to explain that if the Motions were to be passed the matter would leave the Council open to claims both under employment and equality legislation. 

Councillor A S Fluker referred to how Motions 3 and 7 had previously been accepted by the Council but he had withdrawn all his Motions at a previous meeting of the Council.  He commented on the redaction of the information regarding these Motions on the accompanying papers, a number of enquiries he had received regarding the redactions and how no one from the Council had contacted him in advance of the meeting to discuss his Motions.  Councillor Fluker advised how he had lost all confidence in the administration and the Council and therefore withdrew all his Motions in order that they may be considered by the new administration following the elections in May.  He advised this was in accordance with the Rules and was with the agreement of his seconder.

The Chairman responded to Councillor Fluker’s withdrawal of his Motions.  Councillor Fluker raised a Point of Order in relation to Rule 2 and advised he was reporting himself to the Monitoring Officer on the basis of what the Chairman had just said about him.