Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Resources (copy enclosed).

The Council received the report of the Director of Resources seeking Members’ approval to a change of procedure in terms of the submission to the Council of Minutes of Committees for reception and adoption.

The report set out the current practice of receiving and adopting Minutes at meetings of the Council, which Members were advised was felt to serve very little purpose, other than by way of dealing with recommendations.  It was noted that the Council had recently introduced Modern.Gov (a paperless Committee management system) and this provided opportunity to modernise the Council’s process for the adoption and confirmation of Minutes of Committees.  The report set out options for changing current practices.

The Leader of the Council presented the report and advised that the Council and Leader and Chief Executive’s forum had been looking at streamlining processes.  She proposed that this matter be referred to the Corporate Governance Working Group to review how an alternative arrangement would work.  At this point a Member made reference to current Standing Orders and the right for Members to question reports before the Council and the impact the draft proposals would have on this.  This was noted.

In response to questions, the Leader suggested that if agreed, a report would be brought back to the next meeting of the Council.  The proposal of the Leader of the Council was duly agreed.  It was also agreed that for the purpose of this subject an invitation to join the Corporate Governance Working Group would be extended to Councillor R G Boyce.

RESOLVED

(i)              that the proposed changes to procedures in terms of the submission to the Council of Minutes of Committees for reception and adoption is referred to the Corporate Governance Working Group for consideration and reported back to the next meeting of the Council;

(i)              that Councillor R G Boyce MBE be added to the Membership of the Corporate Governance Working Group for the purpose of consideration of this matter of business.