Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form 

Tim Howes, Director of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer declared an interest in agenda item 4, recognising that he would be a non-voting participant in the deliberations.

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

To approve the Minutes of the Constitutional Review Working Party meeting held on 22^nd January 2019 copy attached.

Members agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the Constitutional Review Working Party held on 22 January 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

Report to follow.

Tim Howes, Director of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer presented the report.

Members raised questions and the following changes were proposed:

·  It was suggested that the number of Members of the Council on the Disciplinary Appeals Committee should be increased from 3 to 5.

·  The wording in part d) regarding the membership of Disciplinary Appeals Committee should be clarified.

·  Reference made to the independent investigator and where they fit into the process and where members of the executive have a role.

·  Adjustments should be made to the flow chart at Annex 3 to reflect the above.

It was proposed by Councillor Stevens, seconded by Councillor Dennis and AGREED:

To make recommendations to Standards Committee subject to the amendments made in the meeting:

a) to extend the terms of reference of the General Purposes Committee, as set out in Annex 1;

b) to appoint a Disciplinary Appeals Committee and agree its terms of reference, as set out in Annex 1, and agree the Committee should comprise three Members of the Council appointed on a politically proportionate basis;

c) to appoint an Independent Persons Panel, agree its terms of reference, as set out in Annex 1, and agree that it should comprise three Independent Persons;

d) to agree to pay a fee to Independent Persons appointed to the Independent Persons Panel equal to the agreed rate paid in respect of their role in advising Council on Councillor Conduct issues;

e) to amend the Employment Rules, as set out in Annex 2;

f) to delegate to the Committee Services Manager authority to invite and appoint members to serve on the Independent Persons Panel as set out in paragraph 5 of the report, and;

g) to delegate to the Chief Executive the authority to suspend the S.151 Officer or the Monitoring Officer in cases of urgency, as set out in paragraph 9