Issue - meetings

An explanation of the role and powers of the Committee from the Area Liaison Officer.

Our Chair asked Diana Edmonds (Assistant Director Culture, Libraries and Learning) to introduce the new Area Committee and explain the terms of reference.

We noted that the Committee was established under the Council’s constitution and was therefore a formal committee of the Council which meant that it would need to adhere to the relevant legal and procedural rules that applied. Meetings would be supported by a committee clerk who would be able to assist with such matters.

We also noted that the terms of reference, copies of which had been laid round, included –

·         Developing an area plan which would set out our priorities for the year

·         Working with others as necessary – and in particular local groups, police and transport to benefit our local communities

·         Influencing the operation of the new Veolia contract by making recommendations to the Village Manager

·         Putting forward ideas for transport and road improvements to the Council

·         Making by-laws – which would need specialist advice if any were proposed and which could be provided at the time

·         Putting forward our views on planning and licensing applications at an early stage. This would be at the pre-planning stage with planning and licensing decisions taken by the Council’s Regulatory Committee.

·         Recommending priorities for spending to the Council’s Cabinet as a part of the budget making process.

·         As a part of the wider review of Council decision making, that was referred to at the earlier Area Forum the Chair of our Committee would also be a Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee through which the Council’s Cabinet was held to account on a range of issues.

The Committee was scheduled to meet 4 times this year and Committee papers would be published in advance including on the Council’s web site. Minutes of meetings would also be produced which would also be available on the Council website.

RESOLVED:

That the terms of reference be noted.