Decision

Council approved the following recommendations:

Resolved:

That Full Council:

1)              approved the proposed amendments to the call-in procedure set out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution, including:

•          reducing the threshold for the exercise of call-in from three Members to two Members of the relevant Policy and Scrutiny Committee; and

•          introducing criteria applicable to the exercise of call-in;

2)       approved the proposed amendments to the Task Group provisions set out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution, clarifying the role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in establishing and overseeing Task Groups;

3)       approved the proposed minor amendments to Chapter 4 of the Constitution to ensure consistency and accuracy of the Chapter as a whole; and

4)       noted that the Director of Law would keep under review the operation and effectiveness of the constitution, including the provisions proposed for amendment within the report, and would bring back to full council, via the General Purposes Committee, any proposals for change as soon as possible after the need for change was identified.

Reason for Decisions:

1)              Following changes approved by Full Council to the size and structure of Policy and Scrutiny Committees, consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution were proposed.

2)              These included reducing the threshold required to exercise call-in from three Members to two Members of the relevant Policy and Scrutiny Committee, to ensure that the call-in mechanism remained proportionate, accessible and effective.

3)       The report also proposed the introduction of criteria for when and why a decision may be subject to call-in. These criteria promoted consistency in the application of call-in and supported the Council’s scrutiny function to focus on strategic oversight.

4)       Amendments to the existing provisions with regards to Task Groups was also proposed to provide for oversight and approval of Task Groups by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, supporting a more coordinated and effective approach to scrutiny.

5)       Minor amendments to Chapter 4 of the constitution were also proposed to ensure the overall consistency and accuracy of the Council’s policy and scrutiny arrangements.