Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Dare & Hicks.

To appprove the minutes of the meetng held on 12 January 2010.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2010 be approved as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Minute No. 6, page 3, in recommendation insert words “and director” after group director.

To answer any public questions about matters which are within the powers and duties of the Committee.  The closing date/time for receipt of question sis 10.00am on Monday, 1 March 2010.  To answer any oral question(s) put by members of the public with the consent of the Chairperson.

Depending on the nature of the questions asked it may not be possible to provide a comprehensive answer at the meeting, in which case a written answer will be supplied as soon as reasonably possible after the meeting.

No public questions were received.

To answer any written members’ questions.  The closing date/time for the receipt of questions is 10.00am on Monday, 1 March 2010.

No Members’ questions were received.

Christine Wray presented this report that advised of the consequential changes to the Constitution in relation to the Adoption of Revised Treasury Management Code and Prudential Indicators.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL

THAT the amendments to the Constitution set out in the report be approved.

Christine Wray presented this report and reminded members that at the last meeting the Committee considered a protocol for questions at Cabinet meetings.  The Monitoring Officer was asked to draw up amendments to the Constitution to implement the proposals discussed.  The Committee considered an additional rule to be added to Cabinet Procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution.

During the ensuing debate some members did not think oral questions would add any value, however, others argued that it was good for democracy that members of the public should be able to ask questions on the day of the Cabinet Meeting. As a compromise it was agreed that members of the public should be able to ask an oral question, on any item on the Cabinet agenda, as long as they give 30 minutes notification prior to the start of the meeting.  Supplementary questions could be asked to written questions.  Members agreed that questions should be at the beginning of the meeting therefore paragraph 9.11 of the proposed procedure should be deleted.   It was also agreed that paragraph 9.10.3 should be amended to read “are substantially the same as a question that has been put to a meeting of the Cabinet or Council in the past six months; or”.

The Committee noted that this would be referred to the Cabinet for their views, then to Council for approval to amend the Constitution.

RESOLVED

THAT the draft Cabinet Procedure Rule 9 relating to Questions at Cabinet Meetings as set out Annex A, as amended be approved.

The new Cabinet Procedure Rule be referred to Cabinet for their views and then recommended to full Council for approval.

At its meeting on 23 February 2010, the Appointments Committee referred a recommendation to the Constitution Committee that for joint appointments with NHS Gloucestershire which are within the remit of the Appointments Committee a sub-committee should be established comprising 3 members (2 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat) to drawn from the Appointment Committee’s membership.  The Committee is asked to consider this recommendation and recommend to Council that amendments to the Constitution be made accordingly.

The Committee considered a recommendation from the Appointments Committee that for joint appointments with NHS Gloucestershire which are within the remit of the Appointments Committee a sub-committee should be established comprising 3 members (2 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat) to be drawn from the Appointment Committee’s membership.

It was noted that the membership would reflect the political balance of the Council.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL

THAT an amendment to part 3 of the Constitution, functions of the Appointments Committee, be made that for joint appointments with NHS Gloucestershire which are within the remit of the Appointments Committee a sub-committee should be established comprising 3 members (2 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat) to be drawn from the Appointment Committee’s membership.