Decision details

25.1  The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes) on a technical review of the County Council’s Constitution which had been undertaken with an aim of making it a more accessible document, removing duplication and simplifying some of the more technical language.  A further change in relation to the constitution of the Member Development Group arising from a recent change to Cabinet Member portfolios was circulated (copy appended to the signed minutes) and members noted that responsibility for the Coroner and mortuaries had recently moved portfolio and Part 3 of the proposed Constitution would be updated accordingly.  The Committee was asked to endorse the proposed changes for recommendation to the County Council.

25.2  The Committee placed on record its thanks to Mr Burrett and Mr Mitchell for reviewing the proposed changes in detail and to Charles Gauntlett and the officer team for their work on rewriting the Constitution.

25.3  Mr Acraman asked whether it would be possible to add the makeup of the County Local Committees to Part 3, the Scheme of Delegation, and the Committee agreed it was a good idea to do so.

25.4  Resolved –

(1)     That, subject to the addition of the makeup of the County Local Committees to Part 3, the revised text of the Constitution be recommended for submission to the County Council on 20 July 2018 for approval; and

(2)     That the proposed changes to governance arrangements set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report, subject to the addition of the proposed change to the constitution of the Member Development Group, be recommended for submission to the County Council on 20 July 2018 for approval.