Agenda and minutes

To consider the report of the Head of Administration Services and the views expressed at the informal meeting prior to the meeting of this Committee,

The Committee noted the views that had been expressed by Councillors during the informal consultation meeting with regard to the democratic renewal of full Council. The Committee considered each of these in turn and unanimously agreed the following recommendations to be considered by Council.

Resolved:

1) That Officers bring forward detailed proposals for full Council to progress the following recommendations:

a) That a Council Business Committee of 7 Members should be established based on proportional representation, with the functions of:

Ø      making appointments to Committees and Outside bodies (other than those made at Annual Council),

Ø      dealing with consultation requests and responses,

Ø      agreeing the agenda and making the arrangements for the ‘special’ Council meeting as set out in (4) below

Ø      timetabling of meetings

Ø      urgent items

Ø      minor constitutional amendments.

b) That with regard to speaking and questions at meetings of Council:

Ø      Members speaking in response to questions at Council to be limited to a maximum of three minutes.

Ø      Member presentation of reports to be limited to a maximum of fifteen minutes.

Ø      Only Members other than Cabinet Members, shall be allowed to ask Cabinet questions on the Leaders Report and Cabinet minutes to enable Council to hold the executive to account.

c) That one of the existing autumn meetings of Council, shall be selected by the Council Business Committee and redesignated as a ‘special’ Council meeting for any of the following purposes:

Ø      Consideration of a single topic

Ø      Hearing an external speaker

Ø      Meeting in assembly or forum

Ø      Consideration of a local, regional or national issue

Ø      Or other purpose to be determined by the Council Business Committee

d) That with regard to public speaking at Council:

Ø      Members of the public should continue to provide a written submission when giving an address.

Ø      The individual submitting the submission (which will continue to be included on the published agenda) should be given the opportunity to summarise their submission at the meeting.

Ø      Following the summary, the appropriate Cabinet Member or Committee Chairman will be given the opportunity to respond to the submission.

2) That Cabinet be recommended to:

a)      Investigate introducing the opportunity for public participation at Cabinet meetings.

b) Consider rethinking the Leader’s Report as a Cabinet report, the relevant Cabinet Member to present each section but within the overall time for members’ presenting reports,and respond to questions thereon.

3) That a further report be commissioned by the committee on the options and implications with regard to filming, recording and broadcasting of council meetings.