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Standards Committee - Thursday, 7th March, 2024 7.00 pm

March 7, 2024 View on council website  Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)

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“Will two stages rush constitutional changes?”

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Summary

The council meeting focused on reviewing and potentially amending various procedural and policy elements, including the contract procedure rules and the council officer protocol. The meeting also discussed changing the constitutional change process from a three-stage to a two-stage system.

  1. Contract Procedure Rules: The committee discussed updates to the contract procedure rules in anticipation of the new Procurement Act 2023. The decision was to refresh rather than rewrite the rules, with updates to spend thresholds and job titles. The changes aim to streamline procurement ahead of the new legislation, ensuring the council remains compliant and efficient.

  2. Council Officer Protocol: Amendments to the council officer protocol were proposed to improve council-officer relations. The discussion highlighted the need for clarity on councillors' interactions with officers and the public. The protocol was revised to include guidance on these interactions, aiming to foster respect and proper conduct. The committee agreed to the revisions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professional and respectful relationships.

  3. Constitutional Change Process: There was a significant debate on changing the constitutional change process from three stages to two. Proponents argued it would streamline decision-making and align with practices in other councils. Opponents worried about reduced scrutiny and the potential for rushed decisions. The committee ultimately voted to recommend this change to the full council, suggesting it could make the council more agile and responsive.

An interesting moment occurred when a councillor noted the need for better communication regarding local ward issues, highlighting the importance of keeping councillors informed to better serve their constituents. This underscored ongoing concerns about transparency and communication within the council.

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorHelen Crittenden
Councillor Helen Crittenden  The Labour Party •  Eastcliff Ward
Profile image for CouncillorTricia Austin
Councillor Tricia Austin  Green Party •  Central Harbour Ward
Profile image for CouncillorRuth Duckworth
Councillor Ruth Duckworth  Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property •  The Labour Party •  Dane Valley Ward
Profile image for CouncillorPhil Fellows
Councillor Phil Fellows  Conservative Party •  Birchington South Ward
Profile image for CouncillorJill Bayford
Councillor Jill Bayford  Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning •  Conservative Party •  Bradstowe Ward
Profile image for CouncillorElysa d'Abbro
Councillor Elysa d'Abbro  The Labour Party •  Westbrook Ward
Profile image for CouncillorTony Ovenden
Councillor Tony Ovenden  The Labour Party •  Sir Moses Montefiore Ward

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Supplementary Agenda 07th-Mar-2024 19.00 Standards Committee
Agenda frontsheet 07th-Mar-2024 19.00 Standards Committee

Additional Documents

Stanadard CSOs
Printed minutes 07th-Mar-2024 19.00 Standards Committee
Minutes Public Pack 20112023 Standards Committee
DoI advice
Standards Committee- Councillor-Officer Protocol
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE PROCESS
Protocol on Member Officer Relations Annex 2
Chairs Report 7 March 2024
Complaint table 2023-24
Complaint table 2023-24
Councillor_Officer Protocol-V2 Annex 1
Annex 1 Contract Standing order