Issue - meetings

9.00 pm

Report of Chief Executive

Summary

To consider the proposals arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee review of Call-in arrangements and to make recommendations to Council (via the Executive and Standards Committee).   

Recommendations

(1)               that the Executive note the results of the consultation on the review of Call-in and the proposals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(2)       that the Executive consider the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s preferred Call-in model and decide what recommendations to put to Council.

Agreed, with the amendments that:

a) That paragraph 15g of Appendix 3 be amended to reflect that portfolio holders do not make decisions at scheduled meetings.

b) That paragraph 17 of Appendix 3 be amended to bring in 5 minute time limits on speakers and confirm that the Chief Executive will confirm the validity of the Call-in.

c) That the period in which a decision is available for call-in be kept as at present and not extended.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to consider the proposals arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee review of Call-in arrangements and to make recommendations to Council (via the Executive and Standards Committee).

Resolved

(1)               That the results of the consultation on the review of Call-in and the proposals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

(2)       That having considered the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s preferred Call-in model the model as set out below be  recommended to Standards Committee and Council, including the following amendments:

a) That paragraph 15g of Annex to these minutes (as set out in the minute book) be amended to reflect that portfolio holders do not make decisions at scheduled meetings.

b) That paragraph 17 of Annex to these minutes (as set out in the minute book) be amended to bring in 5 minute time limits on speakers and confirm that the Chief Executive will confirm the validity of the Call-in.

c) That the period in which a decision is available for call-in be kept as at present and not extended.

Reasons - The Leader of the Council asked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the Call-in process, in light of councillors’ concerns about the current arrangements following the Call-in earlier this year. This made it clear that Call-in is currently ill-defined in the constitution which gives precise guidance on the timescales and criteria for Call-in but it is vague about the practicalities of preparing for and conducting the hearing.  The fact that Call-in is used so infrequently has compounded the problem as the arrangements have not been reviewed and updated, unlike those in Authorities where Call-ins are more frequent.