Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None declared.

(Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 26th February were agreed as a correct record.

Report Number CB01 from the Leader of the Council.

(Enclosure)

Decision

(1)   That the Constitution and Accounts Committee agrees to the proposals outlined in report CB01 and the consequent changes to the constitution necessary to implement them.

(2)       That this decision is reported to the Council on 19th April to approve on the basis that:

• the size of the new scrutiny committee to consist of 9 members.
• the size of the three policy development groups is to be 7 members with remit prepared by the Chief Executive.
• these changes to come into effect from the Council’s annual meeting when a  report is made on  the consequential changes to the Constitution.

(3)   That membership of the Development Control Committee be reduced from 17 to 15 members.

Members discussed report CB01 which had been circulated with the agenda. The Chairman highlighted two amendments to the report and gave a background brief on the reasons behind the report coming to the Constitution and Accounts Committee.  The report had also been circulated at the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group on 12th March 2007.  Reference was made to the number of members on the new scrutiny panel and it was proposed that the new panel have nine members not the 11 mentioned in the report also the use of the term “close working relationship” was discussed.  One member felt that nine members of the scrutiny panel was a deplorably low figure.  The Chairman moved the recommendation as per the report with two amendments that paragraph three of the recommendation read confirm rather than approve and that the number of scrutiny panel members be reduced from 11 to nine.  On being put to the vote the recommendation with amendments was approved.

The following item was discussed as a matter of urgency having regard to the motion being put to the Committee following the Council meeting on 1st March 2007.

Decision

The Constitution and Accounts Committee notes that certain members of the Council do not attend council meetings, panel meetings and committee meetings as they should and although no course of action can be taken through the remuneration panel, the Committee implores Group Leaders to make sure their members are represented on their respective Committees, Panels etc and that all members attending meetings make contributions to those meetings.

The motion as put at Council on 1st March 2007 was discussed by the Committee.  The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the Members Allowance Regulations clearly stated that each member was entitled to the basic allowance by statute.   The Committee expressed concern that members of the Council did not attend council meetings as they should and various examples were given.   It was felt that as they could not impose any monetary penalty that the group leaders be asked to encourage their members to attend and contribute to meetings.  For the future it was suggested that maybe the pathfinder project could pilot a dialogue with minister to help address the problems being encountered about lack of attendance by members.

The meeting closed at 3.25pm.