Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report which requested Members to consider the dates, venues and start times of meetings in order that a timetable of meetings for 2010/11 could be recommended to Council for approval.  A draft timetable was submitted for consideration.  Members were advised, at the meeting, of the views on commencement times of the Chairman of the Licensing Act Committee. 

With regard to the forthcoming General Election, Members were informed that there was a possibility that the date of the Annual Council would need to be rescheduled dependent on the date of the election. 

Members were requested to consider specifically the start times of the first meetings of Overview and Scrutiny Task Groups which currently met at 6.00 p.m. The Committee felt this was acceptable and should remain unchanged. 

It was suggested that the month of August which usually remained meeting free was now being booked up with meetings.  It was agreed that the August recess should be maintained at all times and that no additional meetings should be booked in that month. 

The Committee went on to discuss the start time of the Licensing Act Committee which had been moved to 4.30 p.m. the previous year. It was agreed that this should remain the same. 

Members questioned whether the start time of Licensing Act Sub-Committee which currently was set at 10.30 a.m. could be moved to 9.00 a.m. or 9.30 a.m. to accommodate Councillors who worked. It was agreed that this would be investigated further and reported to Council for consideration. 

Concern was expressed over the timescale for refurbishment of Morecambe Council Chamber which would allow Planning Committee meetings to move back there. It was agreed that an update on this would be requested and included in the referral report to Council. 

Members were reminded that the Committee had, at its meeting in June, agreed that a series of Service Briefings be included as a priority in the Member Development Strategy. It was agreed that the dates of these briefings should be included in the Meetings Timetable as the first Thursday in the month alternating between Morecambe and Lancaster, subject to room availability.  It was noted that the Briefings would not be formal meetings, or be part of the Council’s decision-making process.  The Briefings would include topics of interest for members of the Council.  It was noted, at the meeting, that there was enough information to brief members on for at least a 12 month period. 

Resolved:

(1)               That Council Business Committee recommends the Meetings Timetable 2010/11 to Council for approval. 

(2)        That Council be requested to consider the Committee’s recommendation that the first meeting of all Task Groups should remain at 6.00 p.m. unless there are special circumstances, with the Task Group at its first meeting then considering the times and dates of future meetings. 

(3)        That Members note the scheduling of the Annual Meeting and of the possible need to reschedule this if a General Election is called close to this time. 

(4)        That an August recess be maintained at all times. 

(5)        That Officers investigate whether the start time of Licensing Act Sub-Committee, currently set at 10.30 a.m., could be moved to 9.00 a.m. or 9.30 a.m. to accommodate Councillors who work and be reported to Council for consideration. 

(6)        That an update be included in the report to Council on the timescale for the refurbishment of Morecambe Council Chamber which would allow Planning Committee meetings to move back there. 

(7)        That Briefings for Members be included in the Timetable on the first Thursday in every month with the venue alternating between Lancaster and Morecambe, subject to room availability.