To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 27 January 2012 and 23 March 2012 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1.

27 January 2012

(i)      Filming, Blogging, Tweeting and Recording by the Public at Meetings

The recommendations are shown on page 19 and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are shown on pages 21-25.

(ii)     Biggleswade Joint Committee

The recommendation is shown on page 27 and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are shown on page 29-30.

(iii)    Amendments to the Ethical Handbook – Site Visit Requests by Members

The recommendation is shown on page 31 and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are shown on page 33.

(iv)    Reports of Executive Members and Order of Business at Ordinary Meetings of the Council

The recommendations are shown on page 35 and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are shown on pages 37-45.

23 March 2012

(v)          Governance Arrangements 

The recommendations are shown on page 47 and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are shown on pages 49-55.

i)       Filming, Blogging, Tweeting and Recording by the Public at Meetings

The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 27 January 2012, seeking the approval of the draft protocol on audio/visual recording and photography at Council meetings and amendment of the Council’s constitution to make reference to these.

RESOLVED

1.            that the draft protocol on audio/visual recording and photography at Council meetings, a copy of which was attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved and adopted as the Council’s formal guidance on the matter; and

2.            that the Constitution be amended to refer to the availability of the protocol within the Access to Information Procedure Rule at paragraph 3 of Part G2 of the Constitution, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

ii)      Biggleswade Joint Committee

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 27 January 2012, seeking the approval of terms of reference for a Biggleswade Joint Committee.

         RESOLVED

         that section J2 of the Constitution be amended by the addition of the provision for a Biggleswade Joint Committee with the terms of reference as set out in Appendix A to the report.

iii)     Amendments to the Ethical Handbook – Site Visit Requests by Members

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 27 January 2012, to amend the Ethical Handbook in relation to Member requests for site visits on planning applications being considered by the Development Management Committee.

         RESOLVED

that paragraph 10.2.3 of Part 2 of the Ethical Handbook, relating to site visits by Members, be amended as set out in Appendix A to the report.        

iv)     Reports of Executive Members and Order of Business at Ordinary Meetings of the Council

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 27 January 2012, seeking to amend the Constitution:

·        to include Executive Member reports as part of the business at ordinary meetings of the Council

·        to introduce a provision to allow questions on the reports or minutes of the Executive or Committees

·        restricting the time allocation for open questions at each ordinary meeting of the Council from 45 minutes to 30 minutes.

RESOLVED

1.            that Rule 4.2 of Part B5 of the Constitution, relating to the order of business at every ordinary meeting of the Council, be amended as set out in Appendix A to the report;

2.            that Rule 13.1 of Part B5 of the Constitution, relating to questions by Members on reports or minutes of the Executive or Committee, be amended as set out in Appendix B to the report; and

3.            that Rule 13.7.1 of Part B5 of the Constitution, relating to open questions and procedures, be amended as set out in Appendix C to the report.

v)      Governance Arrangements

         The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Constitution Advisory Group held on 23 March 2012, proposing revised governance arrangements.  The proposals were in part a response to the provisions relating to ethical standards contained in the Localism Act 2011, but would also streamline the Council’s committee structure.

RESOLVED

1.(a)    that the terms of reference of the General Purposes Committee be extended to include the following additional functions:

(i)           exercising the Council’s functions under Chapter 7 (sections 26 to 37) of the Localism Act 2011; and

(ii)         oversight of the Council’s Constitution, including approving any changes that may be required on the advice of the Monitoring Officer.

1.(b)    that the membership of the General Purposes Committee be expanded to 12 members, of which 3 would be Executive Members;

1.(c)    that the General Purposes Committee be scheduled to meet during each committee cycle;

2.         that the following responsibilities be delegated to the Chief Executive:

(i)           determining the award of any discretionary payments to employees under the Local Government Pension Scheme or the Council’s severance policy; and

(ii)         designating an officer to be the Council’s Scrutiny Officer in accordance with section 9FB of the Local Government Act 2000, after consultation with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Panel.