Decision details

To report on the latest proposed amendments to the constitution, including proposals to amend the overview and scrutiny committee structure in light of the Council's reorgansiation.

87/2008 The Cabinet recommended the following changes to the Constitution to Council on 17 April to take effect from the Annual Council meeting on 7 May:
(i) the disestablishment of the Community Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (noting that as a consequence, the Health and Adult Social Care Sub Committee will not be reappointed);
(ii) a change of the name of the Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Children and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee with continuing responsibility for scrutiny of children's health;
(iii) a change of the name of the Regeneration and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee;
(iv) the establishment of a Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee which will have the same terms of reference as the existing Health and Adult Social Care Sub Committee and to increase the size of that Committee from 10 to 12 members;
(v) The changes to the terms of reference of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out in Appendix A to the report.
88/2008 The Cabinet recommended to Council the changes to the Local Choice Functions as set out in Appendix D of the report.
89/2008 The Cabinet recommended to Council to increase the number of Independent Members on the Standards Committee from four to six and that the Monitoring Officer and the Chairman of the Standards Committee be authorised to interview for three new independent members and to make a recommendation to Full Council for appointment.
90/2008 The Cabinet recommended to the Council on 17 April 2008 to submit the following proposals to the Annual Council on 7 May 2008:
(i) the establishment of committees, their size and allocation of seats to political groups as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report subject to further changes required as a consequence of the recent resignation of a Member of the Council;
(ii) the continuation of an ad hoc Committee to consider the removal of Council appointed school governors as and when necessary and to waive political balance in respect of this Committee;
(iii) appointments to be made to each committee including the appointment of voting and non-voting co-optees in accordance with the wishes of the political groups;
(iv) appointments to Committees, Joint Committees and other bodies as set out in Appendix B of the report.
91/2008 The Cabinet recommended the Council on 17 April 2008 to submit the following proposal to the Joint meeting of Committees after the Annual Council meeting on 7 May 2008:
(i) the appointment of chairmen and vice chairmen of Committees;
(ii) the establishment of sub committees ( with terms of reference as set out in the Council's Constitution), task groups, their size and the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Appendix C of the report.

The changes proposed to the Council's Constitution bring the Overview and Scrutiny Committees into line with the new directorate structure and the other decisions relate to requirements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, arrangements for the establishment of committees and the allocation of seats plus other appointments for 2008/2009.