All Decisions
The majority of decisions of the Council, Licensing Board, Planning Committee and Standards Committee, which can be viewed on this page, will have been taken after 10 July 2013.
17/03/2020 - Attestation of the Common Seal ref: 5003 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Director of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer
Decision published: 06/08/2020
Effective from: 17/03/2020
Decision:
As a response to the COVID 19 pandemic, with effect from 17 March 2020 the Monitoring Officer took urgent action to extend the rules for attesting the fixing of the common seal to documents, which required a member and an officer to attest.
The change is that in addition to the existing requirement of a member and legal officer attesting the affixing of the seal, during the Covid pandemic, two legal officers would also be authorised to attest the affixing of the common seal.
The Chairman has been made aware of this decision and supports it.
Background
The purpose of attesting the affixing of the seal is not to agree the content or form of the document being sealed, but simply to show that the council’s common seal has been properly affixed. The practice of attaching seals was introduced into England in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor, its use has recently declined, the Companies Act 2006 replaced the use of a seal by two signatures for companies, whilst its use continues in local and central government. However it is a constitutional and not a legal requirement and we are alone in East Kent in requiring a Member to attest the fixing of the common seal.
This decision will be reported to Council.
Lead officer: Tim Howes