Issue - meetings

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to agree the timetable of committee meetings for the 2018/19 municipal year. The Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained reasons for the proposed changes to meeting times/dates. This was predominantly due to the effect of statutory bank holidays, as well as an additional Audit meeting being generated to allow sufficient time for the Annual Governance Statement to be considered. It was also noted that there was a mistake within Appendix A and it was clarified that the start time of Annual Council was to remain at 6.30pm.

Members raised concerns regarding Budget Council and asked about the possibility of the meeting being deemed a ‘one item agenda’ to solely consider the budget. The Democratic Services Manager explained that this would involve a change in the constitution and the matter would need to be referred to the Monitoring Officer to consider the best way forward. Members were in agreement with the draft timetable, set out in Appendix B, however Members felt that consideration should be made to Lancashire County Council’s 2017/18 meetings timetable to avoid any major clashes for those Members who were both City and County Councillors.

It was proposed by Councillor Phillippa Williamson and seconded by Councillor Joan Jackson:

‘That the draft timetable, set out in Appendix B of the report, be approved subject to no major clashes with Lancashire County Council’s meeting timetable for the 2017/18 municipal year. As well as the matter of Budget Council being a one item agenda be referred to the Monitoring Officer.’

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition.

Resolved:

(1)    That the draft timetable, set out in Appendix B of the report, be approved subject to no major clashes with Lancashire County Council’s meeting timetable for the 2017/18 municipal year.

(2)    That the matter of Budget Council being a one item agenda be referred to the Monitoring Officer.