Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Corporate Manager -  Legal.

For Recommendation to Council

That in so far as they have power to do so Members resolve to agree, but

otherwise recommend the following:

(a)   the Council implements a change in its governance arrangements from a leader / executive to committee model to take effect at the start of the first annual meeting of the Council following a decision by Full Council  to adopt this resolution;

(b)   that save as provided for in (c) below the Council adopt a new Constitution to take effect at the start of the first annual meeting of Council the content of which shall in the first instance be as provided for in Appendix 4 of this report, subject to the size of the Strategy Committee being 10;

(c)  to the extent that any further change is necessary to the draft Constitution following consideration by the Executive  Committee, power is delegated to the Monitoring Officer to identify and make such changes subject to final approval by Full Council;

(d)  that the Council as part of its committee governance arrangements establish an Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(e)  power is delegated to the Corporate Manager – Democratic Services and Elections to undertake all action in connection with any publicity requirements relating to the introduction of new governance arrangements;

(f)   that to the extent it is not covered by any other report considered by Full Council at its annual meeting or previously or in the Financial Regulations of the Council, at the same time as the coming into force of the new governance arrangements, the budget approved by Full Council for that financial year be amended so far as is necessary to reflect the new constitutional arrangements including in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) that the Strategy Committee and Officers be given access to the same finances as was available to the Executive Committee and Officers (as the case may be) under the existing arrangements and in this respect power be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to determine and implement the extent of those changes subject to consultation with the Member appointed to be Chairman of the Strategy Committee. Details of any substantive changes not set out in any report as identified above and / or the emerging Financial Regulations to be reported to a suitable Full Council meeting; and

(g)  for the avoidance of doubt, agree that all existing joint arrangements entered into by the Council be carried over and continue in full force and effect upon the coming into effect of the new committee governance arrangements.

Cllr Barrowcliff introduced the report that presented the new Constitution for the District Council following the referendum in 2016 which required the Council to change its governance arrangements from a Leader/Executive model to a Committee model.  The draft Constitution had been considered by the Audit and Governance Committee and would require Full Council approval.  A number of informal member meetings had been held and a final workshop would be held which would give members the opportunity to make any final comments on the draft prior to Full Council.  Cllr Barrowcliff encouraged members to attend this workshop in order to raise any outstanding issues.  Cllr Barrowcliff reported that the size of the Strategy Committee would be 10 with a quorum of 5, and confirmed that the Constitution could be reviewed in the future and amended if necessary.  

For Recommendation to Council

That in so far as they have power to do so Members resolve to agree, but

otherwise recommend the following:

(a)   the Council implements a change in its governance arrangements from a leader / executive to committee model to take effect at the start of the first annual meeting of the Council following a decision by Full Council  to adopt this resolution;

(b)   that save as provided for in (c) below the Council adopt a new Constitution to take effect at the start of the first annual meeting of Council the content of which shall in the first instance be as provided for in Appendix 4 of this report, subject to the size of the Strategy Committee being 10;

(c)  to the extent that any further change is necessary to the draft Constitution following consideration by the Executive  Committee, power is delegated to the Monitoring Officer to identify and make such changes subject to final approval by Full Council;

(d)  that the Council as part of its committee governance arrangements establish an Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(e)  power is delegated to the Corporate Manager – Democratic Services and Elections to undertake all action in connection with any publicity requirements relating to the introduction of new governance arrangements;

(f)   that to the extent it is not covered by any other report considered by Full Council at its annual meeting or previously or in the Financial Regulations of the Council, at the same time as the coming into force of the new governance arrangements, the budget approved by Full Council for that financial year be amended so far as is necessary to reflect the new constitutional arrangements including in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) that the Strategy Committee and Officers be given access to the same finances as was available to the Executive Committee and Officers (as the case may be) under the existing arrangements and in this respect power be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to determine and implement the extent of those changes subject to consultation with the Member appointed to be Chairman of the Strategy Committee. Details of any substantive changes not set out in any report as identified above and / or the emerging Financial Regulations to be reported to a suitable Full Council meeting; and

(g)  for the avoidance of doubt, agree that all existing joint arrangements entered into by the Council be carried over and continue in full force and effect upon the coming into effect of the new committee governance arrangements.