Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Davidson

Apologies were received from Cllr Davidson

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgement of the public interest.

None

None

To confirm the minutes of the General Purposes Committee of 2March 2006 –  TO FOLLOW

            Due to the short timescale between the General Purposes Committee of 2 March and this meeting the minutes had not been available at the time of despatch of the agenda so were tabled for members to consider at this meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the General Purposes meeting held on 2 March 2006 be confirmed and signed.

            Due to the short timescale between the General Purposes Committee of 2 March and this meeting the minutes had not been available at the time of despatch of the agenda so were tabled for members to consider at this meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the General Purposes meeting held on 2 March 2006 be confirmed and signed.

Report of the Head of Legal Services  

The Head of Legal Services’ representative introduced this item which had been deferred by General Purposes Committee on 2 March for further consideration by Groups and by Licensing Committee on 14 March, following receipt of Counsel’s opinion.  The report asked members to recommend to full Council changes to clarify the term of office of the Leader and Executive members and to make adequate provision for emergency procedures in election year.   

Members of General Purposes agreed a few minor amendments to the wording of the changes to the Constitution which did not change the meaning of the drafts already circulated with the report but simply made them more ‘watertight’.  The Legal Services representative would make these small amendments to the Appendices being referred up to full Council on 20 March 2006.

Finally, members noted that political proportionality did not affect Licensing as this was not applied in the Legislation of the 2003 Act.

RECOMMENDED

1)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the term of office of the Leader and Executive members, as set out in Appendix 2 of this report and with the additions proposed by the Deputy-Chair, to have effect as amendments to Part H.1 of the Council’s Constitution.

2)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the “Emergency Procedures in Election Year”, including the delegated powers to the Chief Executive, set out in Appendix 3 to the report, to have effect as amendments to Part E.7 of the Council’s Constitution.

3)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the Terms of Reference of the Licensing Committee, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report with the further changes agreed by Members and noted below, to have effect as amendments to Part E7 of the Council’s Constitution. 

4)                 That full Council confirm the current appointments of members of the Licensing Committee to extend to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 22 May 2006 subject to the following conditions. 

·        The individual members being re-elected as councillors,

·        The Licensing Committee only having power to act for the purpose of determining contested matters that the Licensing Authority is required to decide before the newly appointed licensing bodies are able to meet.

·        Those Licensing Committee members who are re-elected as Councillors would meet to hold any hearings needed and to elect a Chair for that meeting only and that the amended terms of reference of the Committee include these points.

The Head of Legal Services’ representative introduced this item which had been deferred by General Purposes Committee on 2 March for further consideration by Groups and by Licensing Committee on 14 March, following receipt of Counsel’s opinion.  The report asked members to recommend to full Council changes to clarify the term of office of the Leader and Executive members and to make adequate provision for emergency procedures in election year.   

Members of General Purposes agreed a few minor amendments to the wording of the changes to the Constitution which did not change the meaning of the drafts already circulated with the report but simply made them more ‘watertight’.  The Legal Services representative would make these small amendments to the Appendices being referred up to full Council on 20 March 2006.

Finally, members noted that political proportionality did not affect Licensing as this was not applied in the Legislation of the 2003 Act.

RECOMMENDED

1)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the term of office of the Leader and Executive members, as set out in Appendix 2 of this report and with the additions proposed by the Deputy-Chair, to have effect as amendments to Part H.1 of the Council’s Constitution.

2)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the “Emergency Procedures in Election Year”, including the delegated powers to the Chief Executive, set out in Appendix 3 to the report, to have effect as amendments to Part E.7 of the Council’s Constitution.

3)                 That full Council adopt the changes to the Terms of Reference of the Licensing Committee, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report with the further changes agreed by Members and noted below, to have effect as amendments to Part E7 of the Council’s Constitution. 

4)                 That full Council confirm the current appointments of members of the Licensing Committee to extend to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 22 May 2006 subject to the following conditions. 

·        The individual members being re-elected as councillors,

·        The Licensing Committee only having power to act for the purpose of determining contested matters that the Licensing Authority is required to decide before the newly appointed licensing bodies are able to meet.

·        Those Licensing Committee members who are re-elected as Councillors would meet to hold any hearings needed and to elect a Chair for that meeting only and that the amended terms of reference of the Committee include these points.

Report of the Head of Personnel - ATTACHED

This report was considered by General Purposes on 2 March but members decided to defer a decision pending considerations by Groups in order that  synergy could be achieved with a similar policy for members.  The Head of Personnel confirmed that he had not received any comments from Minority Group.    Members present were aware of the careful consideration this item had received from Majority Group and the Head of Personnel had been tasked to ensure an adequate implementation plan; taking into consideration awareness, communication,  training and working within the Council’s culture to enforce the policy for both officers and Members.

                                              RESOLVED

1)     That support be offered to staff wishing to stop smoking through the health promotion activities planned for 2006/7.

2)     That revised policy attached as Appendix A to the report be approved.

3)     That a staff publicity campaign be organised to raise awareness of the above.  

4)     That an implementation plan for both officers and Members be reported back to the first General Purposes Committee of the new Municipal Year.

This report was considered by General Purposes on 2 March but members decided to defer a decision pending considerations by Groups in order that  synergy could be achieved with a similar policy for members.  The Head of Personnel confirmed that he had not received any comments from Minority Group.    Members present were aware of the careful consideration this item had received from Majority Group and the Head of Personnel had been tasked to ensure an adequate implementation plan; taking into consideration awareness, communication,  training and working within the Council’s culture to enforce the policy for both officers and Members.

                                              RESOLVED

1)     That support be offered to staff wishing to stop smoking through the health promotion activities planned for 2006/7.

2)     That revised policy attached as Appendix A to the report be approved.

3)     That a staff publicity campaign be organised to raise awareness of the above.  

4)     That an implementation plan for both officers and Members be reported back to the first General Purposes Committee of the new Municipal Year.

In accordance with Standing Order 32.6, as this is a Special Meeting, no other business shall be considered.

Members present offered a vote of thanks to the Chair and officers for their support and professionalism to General Purposes Committee over the last Municipal Year.

The meeting finished at 7pm

Members present offered a vote of thanks to the Chair and officers for their support and professionalism to General Purposes Committee over the last Municipal Year.

The meeting finished at 7pm