Members were advised that it was proposed that there would be no change to the current arrangements for Terms of Reference in respect of the above regulatory Committees.
Councillor Myers on behalf of the Independent Group tabled his proposals for a Committee system which proposed 5 Committees with Sub Working Groups as follows :-
Councillor Myers also proposed that meetings should meet on a six weekly cycle and that the Oversight Committee should be allowed to make recommendations which are seen to improve the functions of the other Committees. The Independent Group had also submitted details of their proposed financial implications for the introduction of a Committee system.
Councillor Grey advised the meeting that she did not need to pass round the UKIP groups proposals as they were broadly similar to the Independence Group the main difference being Committee titles, however they did not include a Scrutiny Group as Committees should be self-scrutinising.
The Chairman tabled the Conservative Groups proposals for a Committee structure which included a Policy and General Purposes Committee with proposed Committees to be called Economic Development; Homes and Community; Environment; Transformation; and Resources reporting direct to Policy and General Purposes Committee. There would also be an Audit and Risk Oversight Committee which would report direct to Council, and the regulatory Committees of Development Control Licensing Standards would remain. The issue of Outside Bodies would report direct to the Policy and General Purposes Committee. The Conservative Group were proposing that Committee decision powers threshold would be £50,000 whilst it was proposed that the Policy and Resources Committee could make decisions up to £100,000.
In a response to a question from Councillor Walker the Interim Chief Executive Officer confirmed that it would be best practice for the Council to appoint an Audit and Risk Committee.
In discussing the proposals, the Governance Committee agreed that the spending threshold for all Committees should be set at £100,000.
The Interim Chief Executive Officer should set up a Constitutional Working Party to review and have an oversight of the Councils Constitution and it was agreed that the Members of the current Governance Committee should form the Membership of a Constitutional Working Party.
Councillor Williamson suggested that the Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies should be subject to the Widdicombe Procedure and the Committee agreed that the issue of Outside Bodies should be considered in detail at the next Governance Committee meeting.
Following the Committee consideration of the proposals from the Political Groups for the Committee structure it was agreed that the Officers should report back to the next meeting with proposals for a Committee structure together with Terms of Reference and functions to be aligned to Committees based on the following structure :-
- Policy and Resources Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Environment Committee
- Housing Committee
- Neighbourhoods Committee
d) The Constitution
David Johnson presented a summary of the current Constitution accompanied by a brief commentary as to the extent of any changes needed to reflect the new Committee System of Governance. The Governance Committee noted and received the proposed changes as detailed in the report.
e) Emergency Issues
The Governance Committee agreed that emergency issues should be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with all Group Leaders.
f) Scheme of Delegation
The Committee agreed that the Scheme of Delegation should be considered in detail at the next Governance Committee Meeting.