The General Purposes Committee of Southend-on-Sea Council met on Thursday, 13 June 2024, to discuss proposed changes to the council's constitution and to consider a comprehensive review of the constitution. The committee agreed to amend the constitution to align with common practices regarding the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of overview and scrutiny committees, and to initiate a full review of the constitution.

Changes to the Constitution

Councillor Cowan introduced a report recommending amendments to the Southend-on-Sea City Council Constitution. The proposed changes aimed to align the council with common practices regarding the appointment of chairs and vice chairs of overview and scrutiny committees. The specific amendments included changes to Part 3, Schedule 2, Paragraph 5.18, and Part 4, the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

Councillor McMullan raised questions about the proposed wording changes, seeking clarification on whether the new wording was common practice among other councils. Councillor Cowan responded that the current wording was unique to Southend and that the proposed changes would bring the council in line with the majority of other councils. He noted that the changes would ensure the council could function effectively even if all members were from a single political party.

The committee agreed to the proposed amendments, which included delegating authority to the monitoring officer to make the agreed changes and amend any associated provisions in the constitution.

Comprehensive Review of the Constitution

Councillor Gilbert presented a report requesting a full review of the council's constitution. He noted that while significant work had been done on certain sections of the constitution over the past few years, a comprehensive review was necessary to address ongoing issues and disputes. Councillor Gilbert emphasised the importance of a thorough review to ensure the constitution is fit for purpose for the next decade.

Councillor McMullan inquired about the last full review of the constitution, which was confirmed to have been conducted in 2021 but not completed. Councillor Cowan added that the current constitution had been patchworked over 20 years since the council became a unitary authority.

The committee discussed the timeline for the review, with Councillor Gilbert expressing a preference for a thorough job over a rushed process. Councillor McMullan supported the review, highlighting the need for plain English and clear communication in the council's documents.

The committee agreed to proceed with the comprehensive review and to involve the Standards Committee in the process.

For further details, you can refer to the Public reports pack and the Minutes of Previous Meeting.