Issue - meetings

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to consider the timetable of Committee meetings for the 2019/20 municipal year and also whether to include a meeting of Council on 13 March 2019 within the 2018/19 Committee timetable for consideration of the revised draft Constitution.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained the reasons for the proposed changes to both the 2018/19 and 2019/2020 Committee timetables.

Firstly, the additional Council meeting on 13 March 2019 would be for consideration of the final version of the new draft Constitution.

With regard to the 2019/20 timetable, it was explained that whilst the number of Council meetings had been reduced in previous years, the Constitutional Working Group had acknowledged a need to add two additional meetings of Council to future Committee Calendars, specifically towards the end of March and during June. It was highlighted that Council meetings can always be cancelled due to lack of business if required.

It was further explained that the Constitutional Working Group had suggested that future agendas for full Council budget meetings in February should be limited to the consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only. Subsequently, it was suggested that in future a separate full Council meeting should always be arranged for any substantial agenda items.

Council Business Committee Members were supportive of the recommendations from the Constitutional Working Group. Members highlighted that the need for full Council budget meetings in February to be limited to the consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only, was a view previously shared by this Committee, minute 41 (2017/18) refers. It was also emphasised that whilst the practice of arranging separate full Council meeting for any substantial agenda items was already in place, it was felt important that it be reiterated.

It was proposed by Councillor Janet Hall and seconded by Councillor Abi Mills:

‘That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved.”

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)          That an additional meeting of full Council be scheduled in March 2019 for consideration of the final version of the new draft Constitution.

(2)          That the Committee recommend to full Council draft 2019/20 timetable with the following suggested revisions:

      i.        That the agenda for the full Council budget meeting in February be limited to consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only.

     ii.        That two additional meetings of full Council be scheduled in future Council calendars towards the end of March and during June.

    iii.        That a separate full Council meeting be arranged for any substantial agenda items.