Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

No disclosures of interests were made.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Governance Committee held on 26 March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 26 March 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Report LDS/141 of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services is attached.

The Committee considered report LDS/141 of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which requested that the Committee consider the Annual Governance Statement and provide any comments for incorporation into the final version which would be included in the Annual Statement of Accounts, which was due to be considered by the Audit Committee on 25 July 2018.

Following queries from the Committee, the Legal Services Manager:

·         Acknowledged that there was some duplication of information within the different sections of the Statement, but stated that this was likely to be due to the set format of the document.

·         Clarified that the format of the document followed guidance by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

·         Agreed that the areas of duplication within the document would be looked into.

·         Advised that, as the Governance Committee had responsibility for the corporate governance of the Council, the Corporate Governance Statement was being brought before the Committee for its consideration prior to its inclusion the Statement of Accounts.

·         Provided further information relating to the significant governance issues identified for 2017/18.

RESOLVED

That the comments identified above be taken into consideration, and that the final version of the Corporate Governance Statement be included in the Annual Statement of Accounts, which is to be approved by the Audit Committee in July 2018.

The Committee is asked to RECOMMEND:

That the Full Council agrees the amendments to the Constitution proposed in report LDS/140.

The Committee considered report LDS/140 of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which proposed changes to the Constitution.

The Committee was advised that the amendment to the functions of the Licensing Sub Committee was required to reflect changes which had been made to the Licensing Act 2003 by the Policing and Crime Act 2004.  It was agreed that the reason for the amendment be changed to reflect more accurately why the change was necessary.

The Committee was reminded that the change to the Council Procedure Rules was being introduced in readiness for the Full Council meetings which would take place in the Charis Centre whilst the Town Hall site was being developed.  It was noted that the date of the first meeting would take place in July 2018 and it was agreed that the date in the report be amended to reflect this.  Although it was suggested by a Committee member that the length of Full Council meeting should not be constrained by the opening times of the building, the majority of the Committee were of the view that other alternative venues had been considered but were either too expensive or not suitable.

It was also acknowledged that it was unusual for Full Council to finish after 11pm and the Committee expressed the view that, given the constraints of the venue, Councillors should remain mindful of the guillotine when speaking during Full Council.  The Committee requested, should it become apparent that a matter was due to be considered by Full Council which was likely to generate significant interest, that an alternative venue be sought for that meeting and that a temporary suspension of the Council Procedure Rule relating to guillotine be considered.

The Committee then agreed the changes to the Constitution with the minor amendments detailed above.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council be recommended that the amendments to the Constitution proposed in Appendix 1 to these minutes be agreed.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 25.3 all Committee Members should note that a special Governance Committee has been scheduled for 7pm on 17 July 2018 to consider Ward Boundary Review issues.

The Committee noted that a Special Governance Committee had been scheduled for 7pm on 17 July 2018 to consider Boundary Review issues.

CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

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