Agenda item

(copy herewith)

Councillor Perkins submitted a report that set out the recommendations of the Constitution Review Working Party in respect of Overview and Scrutiny arrangements, terms of reference for the Audit, General Purposes and Standards Committees and a Petitions scheme.  He noted that a further report on other aspects of the Constitution would be brought to Council at its meeting on 12 July 2010.  Councillor Palethorpe seconded the adoption of the report.

Councillor Clarke expressed some concern that the final working party recommendations in respect of Overview and Scrutiny did not fully reflect those made by Overview and Scrutiny itself and that the Constitution Review Working Party’s comments on civic matters had not been reflected in the final terms of reference for the General Purposes Committee.

Councillor Perkins commented that in respect of civic matters, he had been subsequently advised that these should be non- political and had therefore agreed to an amendment to the terms of reference of the General Purposes Committee. This, however, was on the basis that the matter could be further discussed by the Constitution Review Working Party.

RESOLVED:(1) That the revised Overview and Scrutiny Committee Article 6 set out as Appendix 2 of the report and the revised Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

(2) That the revised terms of reference of the Standards Committee set out in Appendix 4 of the report, the revised terms of reference of the General Purposes Committee set out in Appendix 5 and the revised terms of reference of the Audit Committee set out in Appendix 6 be approved.

(3) That the information provided in respect of Neighbourhood Management arrangements be noted.

(4) That the Petitions scheme attached as Appendix 7 of the report be approved.

(5) That the Borough Solicitor be authorised to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution to reflect the changes in paragraphs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.4 above and to make any typographical or other changes to the Constitution arising directly from the recommended changes.