Agenda item
Constitution Review Update
- Meeting of General Purposes Committee, Tuesday, 25th June, 2019 6.30 p.m. (Item 5.6)
- View the background to item 5.6
Appendices 1-4 can be found as part of Supplemental Agenda 1.
Minutes:
Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services introduced the report and took members through the latest report on the ongoing Constitution Review. It was noted that the overall review of the Constitution would improve the ease of use and navigation of the Constitution, revising decision making rules to ensure decisions can be taken at the appropriate level and allowing easier updating of supporting documentation and procedures with the aim of it being presented for consideration at Council at its meeting on 17 July 2019.
It was noted that this had been the first meeting that the Committee had reviewed a draft of the whole document including the proposed changes to the Financial and Contractual Procedure Rules.
Mr Mannion drew Members attention to pages 62-62 and highlighted the substantive changes that had been made to the draft document since the last time it had been reviewed by the General Purposes Committee.
Neville Murton, Corporate Director, Resources, briefly updated the Committee on the Council’s Financial Regulations which formed part of the Constitution. It was noted that the Financial Regulations set out the financial policies and principles of the Council and provided the framework for managing its financial affairs. It was highlighted that the current composition of the Council’s Financial Regulation provided content that was comparable to that published by other local authorities. However, it was noted that there were a number of changes that were required in line with the new financial management code of CITFA and these would be actioned and presented with the full Constitution to Council in July.
Responses to specific questions raised at the last General Purposes Committee in relation to Torbay Council call-in procedures were noted.
Following discussions, Members agreed that Officers continue their work with the intention to present the final Constitution at the Council meeting in July. It was noted that if the reviews of any individual sections were incomplete at that stage, the existing version of that section would be presented to ensure that a full Constitution could be agreed together. Any further amendments could then be agreed as part of the next Constitution review session.
Councillor Peter Golds asked that his thanks to all Members of the General Purposes Committee for their contributions be recorded. He considered that the engagement and discussion around the Constitution had been excellent and a big improvement on previous reviews.
It was Agreed that Mr Mannion would send a note to Members of the Committee if any substantial changes are made to the Constitution before it is presented to Full Council in July.
Members extended their thanks to Mr Mannion for all his work on the Constitution Review
Accordingly, the Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED to:
1. That all four Parts of the Constitution were reviewed and noted.
2. The responses to specific questions raised by the General Purposes Committee at its last meeting were noted.
3. It was confirmed that the Constitution should be presented for consideration to Council on 17 July 2019.
4. It was agreed that minor amendments can continue to be made to the draft constitution in advance of the Council meeting on 17 July with General Purposes Committee Members to be informed of any such changes.
Supporting documents:
- Constitution Review Update Report, item 5.6 PDF 343 KB
- Enc. 1 for Constitution Review Update_v1, item 5.6 PDF 668 KB
- Enc. 2 for Constitution Review Update, item 5.6 PDF 1 MB
- Enc. 3 for Constitution Review Update, item 5.6 PDF 1021 KB
- Enc. 4 for Constitution Review Update, item 5.6 PDF 2 MB
- Enc. 5 for Constitution Review Update, item 5.6 PDF 984 KB