The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report which recommends changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review of the Constitution overseen by a “Cross-Party Constitution Group”.

Please note that Appendix 2 to this report will be published as a supplement to the main agenda.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council will present the report.

Recommendation: That Council resolves to:

1.     Approve the list of proposed amendments to the Constitution detailed in Appendix 1 and highlighted in Appendix 2. 

2.     Adopt the revised Oxford City Council Constitution as presented in Appendix 2.

3.     Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend any further wording that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

4.     Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend the Constitution to include a social media policy, following consideration and approval by the Standards Committee.

Council considered a report of the Head of Law and Governance which detailed recommended changes to the Council’s Constitution following an annual review of the Constitution overseen by an informal Cross-Party Constitution Group.

Councillor Chapman, Board Member for Customer Focused Services, presented the report.

Councillor Simmons, seconded by Councillor Gant, proposed the following amendment which was tabled at the meeting:

Item 9 Constitution Appendix 2 p70; Appendix 1 p8 #49

Section 11.18 (c): alter the word limit on motions to 500 words (from proposed 300 words)

Councillor Chapman accepted the proposed amendment and moved the amended recommendations which were adopted on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to:

1.        Approve the list of proposed amendments to the Constitution detailed in Appendix 1 and highlighted in Appendix 2 and subject to the inclusion of a further amendment to Section 11.18 (c) to alter the word limit on motions to 500 words. 

2.        Adopt the revised Oxford City Council Constitution as presented in Appendix 2 with the addition of the change at (1) above.

3.        Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend any further wording that is identified as being inconsistent with the changes approved by Council.

4.        Delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to amend the Constitution to include a social media policy, following consideration and approval by the Standards Committee.

The Acting Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution.

The Leader of the Council will move the recommendations.

Recommendations: Council is recommended to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and detailed in appendices 1 to 4.

Appendix 1 – Petitions Scheme

Appendix 2 – Contract Procedure Rules

Appendix 3 - Miscellaneous proposed changes

Appendix 4 – Annex to Whistleblowing Policy

Council considered a report of the Acting Head of Law and Governance setting out proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.

Council resolved to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and detailed in appendices 1 to 4:

Appendix 1 – Petitions Scheme

Appendix 2 – Contract Procedure Rules

Appendix 3 - Miscellaneous proposed changes

Appendix 4 – Annex to Whistleblowing Policy

The Head of and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution.

The Leader of the Council will move the recommendations.

Officer Recommendation: Council is recommended to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and in:

Appendix 1 – Full Council Procedures;

Appendix 2 – Board Procedures;

Appendix 3 - Code of Practice for dealing with planning applications at Area   Committees and Planning Review Committees;

Appendix 4 – Code on Councillor-Officer Relations;

Appendix 5 - Miscellaneous proposed changes.

Council considered a report and appendices recommending changes to the Council’s constitution. Members suggested a review of the reduction in allowances for non-attendance at training.

The Head of Law and Governance proposed an amendment as set out in the resolution.

A further amendment as set out in the resolution was proposed, seconded, and agreed on being put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve, with immediate effect:

1.    the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report

2.    and the amendments in:

·         Appendix 1 – Full Council Procedures;

·         Appendix 2 – Board Procedures;  with amendments:

a)    correcting the order of 12.7 Order of business to show reports from scrutiny committees to be taken before items for decision

b)    addresses and questions by members of the public, 15 minutes in total.

·         Appendix 3 - Code of Practice for dealing with planning applications at Area Committees and Planning Review Committees;

·         Appendix 4 – Code on Councillor-Officer Relations;

·         Appendix 5 - Miscellaneous proposed changes.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the contract rules in Section 19 of the Council’s constitution.

The Leader of the Council will move the recommendations and the Head of Law and Governance will be available to answer questions.

Recommendations

Council is recommended to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution as set out in the report and in Appendix 1.

Council considered a report recommending changes to the contract rules in Section 19 of the Council’s constitution.

Council noted that the rules included the requirements for contractors to fit sidebars where practicable, in accordance with the motion adopted on 1 December 2014.                                                                      

Council resolved to:

approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution as set out outlined in the report and in Appendix 1.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution.

Officer Recommendation: That Council approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and in:-

Appendix 1 - Finance Rules;

Appendix 2 - Contract Procedure Rules;

Appendix 3 - Planning Code of Practice;

Appendix 4 - Miscellaneous proposed changes

Council had before it a report recommending changes to the Council’s constitution, set out in appendices to the report.

Councillor Price moved adoption of the changes as set out and this was agreed on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved to approve, with immediate effect, the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report and in:

Appendix 1 - Finance Rules;

Appendix 2 - Contract Procedure Rules;

Appendix 3 - Planning Code of Practice;

Appendix 4 - Miscellaneous proposed changes.

The Monitoring Officer has submitted a report which recommends changes to the Council’s constitution to reflect changes in the law and also to provide clarification.

Council is asked to approve the amendments to the Constitution.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which recommended changes to the Council’s constitution to reflect changes in the law and to provide clarification.

During the debate the following points/additions were raised:

(1)          Contract Rules – Paragraph 19.10 Clauses that must be included in contracts over £100,000 – Inclusion of a requirement seeking a commitment from a contractor to pays its employees the Oxford living wage, was welcomed, but should this also be required on contracts below £100,000.

(2)          Planning Code of Practice – Paragraph 24.3 – Preparation of Planning Policy Documents – Public Meetings – The contents of this paragraph would be reflected in the Planning Code of Practice.

(3)          Planning Code of Practice – Paragraph 24.15 – Site Visits – In the sixth paragraph, last line, replace the word “should” with the word “must”.

(4)          Other Committee Procedures – Paragraph 14.9 – Area Planning Committees and Planning Review Committee – Insert the word “not” between the words “can” and “be” in the first line of sub-paragraph (a)

Council agreed to approve the amendments to the constitution as outlined in appendices 1 to 5 of the report and subject to points (1) to (4) above being clarified and where appropriate included.

See pages 109 to 162 in the main agenda.