Venue: Committee Room 2, Town Hall, Stockport. View directions
Contact: Viki Shaw
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Appointment of Vice Chair To appoint a Vice Chair of the Constitution Working Party for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting. Minutes: RESOLVED – That Councillor Peter Burns be elected as Vice Chair of the Constitution Working Party for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting. |
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To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2009. Minutes: The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 10 December 2009 were approved as a correct record. |
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Declarations of Interest Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting. Minutes: No declarations of interest were made. |
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Arrangements for 'Purdah' PDF 21 KB To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.
The Working Party is invited to review the decision of the Council Meeting on 20 January 2011 in relation to meetings taking place during the period before elections known as ‘purdah’ and the decision of the Central Stockport Area Committee held on 29 March 2012 (resolutions attached). Minutes: The Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Working Party to review the decision of the Council Meeting on 20 January 2011 in relation to meetings taking place during the period before the elections known as ‘purdah’ and the decision of the Central Stockport Area Committee held on 29 March 2012.
The following comments were made/issues raised:-
RESOLVED – (1) That the Monitoring Officer be requested to submit a proposal to the next meeting of the Working Party which sets out the arrangements to restrict publicity during purdah but allows the continuation of business at meetings.
(2) That all Council staff including the staff of Council owned bodies be provided with guidance in relation to purdah in terms of what is permissible during this period. |
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Review of Constitution PDF 2 MB Members are invited to identify areas of the Constitution for review by this Working Party. Minutes: Members were invited to identify areas of the Constitution for review by this Working Party.
The following items were suggested for review at future meetings of the Working Party:
In relation to the Localism Act 2011:
The Local Authority must consider expressions of interest from local bodies to provide services. This Working Party could consider the mechanisms that would need to be in place for these considerations.
The Local Authority was now free to carry out any lawful activity on behalf of its community. The Working Party could consider the ways in which the Constitution could be amended to reflect this new power, in particular in relation to how it spends its resources.
The Working Party could consider how the Constitution should be amended in relation to the new Neighbourhood Planning regime introduced by the Localism Act 2011.
The Localism Act 2011 allows Local Authorities to operate executive arrangements, a committee system or arrangements prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Working Party could consider a change to the governance arrangements of the Council.
Other potential areas for consideration:
The Working Party was requested to consider adding more information in relation to Partnerships in the Constitution such as membership, terms of reference and constitutions.
The Working Party was invited to review (i) the deadline for public questions which was currently 30 minutes before a meeting and (ii) the current process around asking multiple questions of one Member prior to a response being given and the ability to ask a supplementary question.
It was noted that the Council’s representatives on Joint Authorities were available for questioning at meetings. The Working Party was invited to consider how to put questions to other Council owned bodies such as Solutions SK.
The Working Party was invited to review the process for the nomination of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
The Working Party was invited to consider how a motion of no confidence could be accommodated within the Council Meeting Procedure Rules.
The Working Party was asked to consider a protocol on the use of social media and technology by Members during meetings.
A Member suggested that there was little debate at the meetings of the Executive on reports and that the decision making process should be transparent.
The Working Party was invited to consider any amendments necessary to the Financial Procedure Rules in the Constitution.
RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager prepare a list of priorities to be circulated to Members in order to prioritise for the next meeting. |
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Future Meeting Dates To consider the dates of future meetings of the Constitution Working Party. Minutes: RESOLVED – That the date of the next scheduled meeting be organised with the Chair and circulated to the Working Party. |