Issue - meetings

Report of the Interim Monitoring Officer attached.

Further to Minute No. 60 of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 18 April 2018, the Council considered the report of the Interim Monitoring Officer on a suggested change to the Council’s Constitution regarding the procedure rules relating to Notices of Motion.

The existing Council Procedure Rules stipulated a deadline for the submission of Notices of Motion to be considered at a meeting of the Council, but this did not extend to any amendments to a Motion. At the Council meeting held on 22 November 2017 (Minute 52b refers), a Motion submitted by Councillor Ken Jones, sought an amendment to the procedure rules in the Constitution which would require 3 working days' notice of amendments to motions included in a Council agenda, was referred to the Governance Committee for consideration.

The Governance Committee had discussed the merits of introducing a deadline for the submission of an amendment, and whilst understanding the rationale it was felt on balance that the introduction of a deadline would remove flexibility and that members should continue to use the existing Council Procedure Rules.

It was moved by Councillor Alan Ogilvie, seconded by Councillor Karen Walton and

RESOLVED: (For: 30, Against: 13)

That no change be made to the Council’s Constitution regarding the procedure rules relating to Notices of Motion.

Report of the Interim Monitoring Officer attached.

The Committee received a report from the Interim Monitoring Officer on a suggested change to the Council’s Constitution regarding the rules relating to Notices of Motion.

Whilst the existing rules stipulated a deadline for the submission of Notices of Motion to be considered at a meeting of the Council, this did not extend to any amendments to a Motion.  The suggested change was that a deadline be introduced for the submission of an amendment to a Motion.  This followed concerns about the late submission of amendments to Motions at recent meetings of Council and the subsequent debate.  The Committee discussed the merits of introducing a deadline for the submission of an amendment. However, whilst understanding the rationale it was felt on balance that the introduction of a deadline would remove flexibility and the means to resolve the recent issues was really with members using the existing rules.

RESOLVED (Yes: 4, No: 2)

That no change be made to the Council’s Constitution regarding the rules relating to Notices of Motion.