The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review process overseen by a cross-party group of councillors.

Recommendation: Council is recommended to

1.    Approve the list of proposed amendments to governance arrangements in the Council’s Constitution listed in Appendix 1 with effect from 18 May 2022;

2.    Approve the list of proposed amendments to clarify existing governance arrangements in the Council’s Constitution as detailed in Appendix 2 with effect from 18 May 2022;

3.    Approve the dispensations in Part 22.5(e) granted under section 33 of the Localism Act 2011 for a further four years from 1 October 2022:

4.    Note that Council will be recommended to adopt a new Members Code of Conduct under a separate agenda item, following consideration by the Standards Committee; and

5.    Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to make minor and consequential amendments to the Constitution including to wording and/or numbering that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

6.    Note that the Monitoring Officer has delegated authority to change Part 4 (who carries out executive responsibilities) and Part 6 (roles of Cabinet members) to reflect the wishes of the Leader. This would include amending Cabinet Member portfolio titles in the Constitution to reflect any changes announced by the Leader.

Council considered the report from the Head of Law and Governance recommending changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review process overseen by a cross-party group of councillors.

Cllr Thomas presented the report and proposed the recommendations.

The recommendations were agreed on being seconded by Cllr Hollingsworth and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.    Approve the list of proposed amendments to governance arrangements in the Council’s Constitution listed in Appendix 1 with effect from 18 May 2022.

2.    Approve the list of proposed amendments to clarify existing governance arrangements in the Council’s Constitution as detailed in Appendix 2 with effect from 18 May 2022.

3.    Approve the dispensations in Part 22.5( e) granted under section 33 of the Localism Act 2011 for a further four years from 1 October 2022.

4.    Note that Council will be recommended to adopt a new Members Code of Conduct under a separate agenda item, following consideration by the Standards Committee; and

5.    Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to make minor and consequential amendments to the Constitution including to wording and/or numbering that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

6.    Note that the Monitoring Officer has delegated authority to change Part 4 (who carries out executive responsibilities) and Part 6 (roles of Cabinet members) to reflect the wishes of the Leader.  This would include amending Cabinet Member portfolio titles in the Constitution to reflect any changes announced by the Leader.