To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group and answer questions asked under Rule No. 12.1.

                                                                           Date of Meeting           Page No.

1.      Consultation Strategy within the            1 June 2010                  31 - 36

         Council’s Policy Framework

2.      Call-in of Planning Applications by       1 June 2010                  37 - 40

         Members to Development

         Management Committee

3.      Adoption of the Council’s Petition         1 June 2010                  41 - 70

         Scheme and Consequential

         Changes to the Constitution

(a)    Consultation Strategy within the Council’s Policy Framework

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 1 June 2010 which sought the amendment to the Constitution to remove the words “Consultation Strategy” from Part B2 section 1.1.3.8 of the Constitution, as there was no separate Consultation Strategy.

         RESOLVED

         that Part B2 section 1.1.3.8 of the Constitution be amended by the removal of the words “Consultation Strategy”.

(b)    Call-In of Planning Applications by Members to Development Management Committee

The Council considered a revised report and a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 1 June 2010 which sought the amendment to the Constitution to require that planning reason(s) be provided when a ward councillor calls-in a planning application to Development Management Committee.  Members were advised that Officers would be able to advise them on the appropriate reasons for call-in.   Development Management training was also available to all Members.

RESOLVED

that Part H section 4.3.95.1 of the Constitution be amended by the insertion of the words “and supported by the planning reason(s)” after the words “on an agreed pro forma”.

(c)    Adoption of the Council’s Petition Scheme and Consequential Changes to the Constitution

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 1 June 2010 which sought the approval of a Petition Scheme and consequential amendment of the Constitution to comply with the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

         RESOLVED

1.      that for the purposes of the Petitions Scheme, the Chief Executive and all the Directors be nominated as the senior officers who would be subject to the requirement to give evidence at a meeting of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in response to a petition;

2.      that the Council’s e-petitions facility be introduced with effect from 1 October 2010, subject to satisfactory testing;

3.      that the Petitions Scheme, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be approved;

4.            that the consequential amendments to the Constitution set out in Appendices B and C to the report, be approved.