Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors D. Bailey, G.R. Banks, G. Bowker, L.V. Corfield and D.G. Thomas and County Councillor J.C. Holmes who was on other Council business.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 9^th July, 2015 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July, 2015.

Officers were asked to check if training provided to Councillors on safeguarding was the same as that provided for school Governors to ensure that there was no duplication.

To receive and consider declarations of interests from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

The Committee considered the report from the Head of Democratic Services [copy filed with the minutes].

1.         Constitution 

Members considered amendments to the following sections of the Constitution as set out in Appendices A to F to the report:

Section 4 – Full Council

Section 5 – The Cabinet

Section 7 – Scrutiny Committees

Section 9 – Regulatory Committees 

Section 13 – Responsibility for Functions 

Section 16 – Financial Procedure Rules.

The Committee considered the arrangements for recorded votes as the new congress system in County Hall had the facility to record votes. The Committee felt that votes taken at full Council and Cabinet meetings should always be recorded and published on the web and suggested that this be piloted for 12 months.

Members’ attention was drawn to the proposed amendment to require, wherever possible, questions on Cabinet reports to be provided in writing to the report author at least 24 hours before the start of the Cabinet meeting. The intention was to make best use of the Cabinet’s time and to ensure that Portfolio Holders were able to respond to questioners requiring specific information.

3.2       Family Responsibilities

The Committee were content to leave it to the Head of Democratic Services to stay in touch with County Councillor Bowker.

3.5       Future Size of Committees

The Head of Democratic Services reported that there had been general agreement amongst the political group leaders on the need to reduce the size of committees. A further meeting of group leaders was being arranged and it was hoped to bring in changes by 1^st April 2016 to help meet budget savings targets.

4.1         Candidate information, Councillor Information Pack and Induction Programme

The Committee discussed the information that should be made available for candidates standing in the 2017 local government elections. The Member Development Working Group was overseeing the information to be produced for candidates. There was agreement that it was important that candidates should be provided with a realistic picture of the workload of a councillor. Members noted that the Modern.Gov system provided details of Councillors’ attendance at main Committees but was not currently showing their attendance at working groups which was where a lot of work was undertaken. Officers were asked to look at system so that attendance at working groups was also shown.

To receive notes of the Working Group held on 8^th June, 2015 for information.

The Committee received the notes of the Member Development Working Group held on 8^th June, 2015 [copy filed with the signed minutes].

To receive the notes of the Joint Chairs and Vice Chairs Steering Group held on 20^th May, 2015.

The Committee received the notes of the Joint Chairs and Vice Chairs Steering Group held on 20^th May, 2015 [copy filed with the signed minutes].