Agenda item

The Mayor submitted that agenda item 13 be considered before Members ahead of agenda item 12 citing logistical reasons in respect of the latter.

The Chief Executive confirmed the same and presented the contents of agenda item 13 (pages 29 - 30), citing Members’ preference to constitute a new, single Change Management Committee for the purposes set forth at 3.2.1 of the report with the recommendation that Members consider and adopt the generality of the terms of reference of the new committee. He stated that the report might well be the subject of Members’ discussions in the following agenda items and that neither Mrs A Court nor he would be party to those later discussions.

A Member moved the recommendation, citing the recent significant changes in staffing as an important reason for the new Committee to scrutinise the changes, workings, advantages and disadvantages of the Council.

Members were prompted to refer to the terms of references which continued overleaf on the agenda.

A Member sought clarification in respect of: (at page 30), the origin and meaning of the ‘CR6 Regulatory Governance’ cited under ‘Risk’; and, at 3.2.of the report, why the terms of reference did not contain any provision to the empanelment of the two requisite Designated Independent Persons (DIP’s) as cited at 3 of the report for agenda item 12 at pages 26 - 28.

The Leader of the Council advised that Mr Hall could not comment on the agenda item for which he was required to vacate the Council Chamber. He stated that the report had been examined by external legal professionals and invited the support of all Members so to ensure the proper and prompt work of the Committee. He noted there were relevant questions that required addressed and that there would be opportunity for the terms of reference to be considered and amended at a later stage.

The Member opined that the involvement of external legal professionals was unexpected. The Member again questioned why no provision was made at 2 of the report in the terms of reference in respect of the empanelment of DIP’s. The Member sought further clarification as to whether the ordinary rules pertaining to the changing of committee membership and substitutions would apply in the absence of any provision(s) contained in the terms of reference.

The Leader of the Council reiterated the need for the terms of reference to be approved in order for the Committee to operate and the plentiful opportunity for amendment. He noted that such approval would not preclude the need for a significant addition of work to be undertaken. He stated that he was willing to address the Member’s point in the latter part of the meeting.

In response to the question the Leader said  that if the Member wished to change the Committee’s membership, then the Member could do so. The Member stated that he understood the advice of the Leader of the Council to be a commitment on the same.

A Member sought clarification as to whether the point in question was the changing of the Committee’s membership or the provision of substitutions, adding that due to the technical nature of the Committee that substitutions would not be a working idea.

A Member reaffirmed the foregoing statements of the Leader of the Council on the matter and seconded the recommendation.

In response to the Leader of the Council’s earlier reference to the relocation of Customer Services to Bell Street, a Member commended the service and the many years of loyalty provided by those members of the customer services staff who would not be continuing in their positions for the Council in the upcoming weeks.

RESOLVED: That the report be approved by unanimous agreement.