Issue - meetings

2)    Scrutiny Committee

-            25 January 2016

-            22 February 2016  (to follow)

(3)   Audit Committee

-      19 January 2016 

(4)   Managing the Environment Policy Development Group

-            12 January 2016

(5)   Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group

-            26 January 2016

(6)   Community Well Being Policy Development Group

-            2 February 2016

(7)   Planning Committee

-             13 January 2016

-             10 February 2016

(8)   Standards Committee

-            3 February 2016

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee presented the report of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 January 2016.

The Committee to receive a report from the Head of Communities and Governance regarding the updated Constitution.

The Committee had before it a draft Constitution * which had been updated by the Head of Communities and Governance to show amendments that had been agreed at previous meetings.  The Officer explained that amendments that had been previously identified were listed in an index within the report.

The Committee worked through the document.

Page 23, article 1. 1.4 had been amended to indicate Article 17 rather than 14.

Page 34, article 6.2.b an 8 between ‘that and ‘Councillors’ had been missed out and would be added.  This now read “The Deputy Leader of the Council together with at least three but not more than eight Councillors appointed to the Cabinet by the Leader”

Page 34 article 6.3(d), the section regarding the removal of the Leader had a paragraph added stating how this would happen.

Page 35, 6.5 should refer to appointed not elected, to be amended

Page 37 article 6.7(c) had been discussed and agreed at the last meeting that this remain in the Constitution. The change had been made.

Page 37 Article 7 had the heading Scrutiny but referred to Overview and Scrutiny within the text.  Discussion took place regarding the function of the committee, the use of capital letters and whether or not the committee should be referred to as Overview and Scrutiny or just Scrutiny Committee.

It was AGREED to refer to Scrutiny Committee as the name of the Committee but the functions of that committee be described as overview and scrutiny with no capitals, describing a function rather than a name of the committee.

It was AGREED that a sentence be added to explain that at Mid Devon District Council the Scrutiny Committee carried out the function of overview and scrutiny.

Article 7 1 b to insert ‘the functions of’ at the start of the sentence so that it read ‘The functions of’.

Page 39 Article 8.1 the first two paragraphs had been removed, leaving c and d which were now re-referenced as a and b.

Page 43 10.4.(a) wording regarding breeches of the code of conduct added

Page 44 10.4 (1) Inconsistency with brackets

Page 44 (10)  no further action if appropriate had been added

Page 44 – Caveat regarding sanctions.  At the last meeting it had been agreed that the Head of Communities and Governance would discuss this matter with the new Chief Executive when he was in post.  The Chief Executive was not yet in post so this had not happened.

Discussion took place regarding whether or not it was necessary to have this caveat.

It was RESOLVED that the caveat remain in the Constitution and that the Head of Communities and Governance would discuss this matter with the new Chief Executive when he was in post.

(Proposed by Cllr N V Davey and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note:- Councillor Mrs J Roach requested that her vote against this be recorded.

Page 50-51 it had been agreed at the last meeting that the publication and monitoring of the constitution be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13