Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Jeavons Room, First Floor. View directions

Contact: Maggie Jennings  03450 450 500

Items
No. Item

26.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None 

27.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 117 KB

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 as a correct record.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 were agreed as a correct record. There were no matters arising.

28.

Model Petition Scheme pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Portfolio Holder, subject to the amendments made at the meeting,

 

(i)            AGREED

 

(a)            to adopt the draft Petition Scheme in respect of executive functions,

(b)        that the Democratic Services Team Leader be designated as the Petitions Officer and be instructed to report annually to the relevant Portfolio Holder on the operation of the Scheme;

(c)        that the relevant Portfolio Holder, based upon the topic of the petition, will receive Ordinary Petitions for decision, but that the Portfolio Holder may refer a petition to Cabinet if s/he felt that it raises wider issues or is outside the powers delegated to the Portfolio Holder;

(d)        that the Group Leaders / Convenors and relevant ward Councillor(s) be provided with a copy of each petition within 5 working days of receipt, at the same time as it is put on the Petitions Site on the Council website and that all Members and relevant officers be advised of its receipt;

(e)        that the Chief Executive be instructed to incorporate the Petition Scheme in the Council’s Constitution and make consequential amendments;

(f)         that a maximum of 30 minutes be allowed at any meeting for discussion of a petition, but that this can be extended by the Chairman when appropriate; and, where a decision or response is not reached at a meeting, that the petition stand referred to the relevant Portfolio Holder to respond; and

(g)        that the Democratic Services Team Leader undertake immediate investigation of alternative software provision, including the possibility of an in-house solution, in consultation with the Head of ICT and the Policy and Performance Portfolio Holder, and

 

(ii)            RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL the adoption of the Petition Scheme in respect of non-executive functions.

Minutes:

In order to reflect new legislative requirements contained in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, the Council’s existing petition scheme required updating. The Act states that by 15 June 2010, every local authority must have adopted a Petition Scheme, which sets out how it will handle petitions, and by 15 December 2010 every local authority must have an on-line petition facility.

 

Consideration was given to the draft scheme and as a result of the ensuing discussion the following amendments were made:

 

Procedural Guidance

 

Definition

 

Para 1 – lines 2 and 5, replace 20 with 100

 

Scope

 

Para 2.1 – line 4, insert or influence after the word responsibility

 

Para 2.3 – line 1, replace 20 with 100

 

Para 6.1 – line 2, insert the words or is broadly similar in intent, after the word matter

 

Para 8 – line 1, insert the words will be made after the word criteria and line 2/3 delete the words shall be final.

 

Types of Petition

 

Para 9.4 – line 2, replace 50 with 500

 

Para 9.5 – line 4, replace 50 with 500

 

Procedure

 

Para 29 – line 1, delete the word outcome and replace with procedure

 

The Portfolio Holder, subject to the above amendments,

 

(i)            AGREED

 

(a)            to adopt the draft Petition Scheme in respect of executive functions,

(b)        that the Democratic Services Team Leader be designated as the Petitions Officer and be instructed to report annually to the relevant Portfolio Holder on the operation of the Scheme;

(c)        that the relevant Portfolio Holder, based upon the topic of the petition, will receive Ordinary Petitions for decision, but that the Portfolio Holder may refer a petition to Cabinet if s/he felt that it raises wider issues or is outside the powers delegated to the Portfolio Holder;

(d)        that the Group Leaders / Convenors and relevant ward Councillor(s) be provided with a copy of each petition within 5 working days of receipt, at the same time as it is put on the Petitions Site on the Council website and that all Members and relevant officers be advised of its receipt;

(e)        that the Chief Executive be instructed to incorporate the Petition Scheme in the Council’s Constitution and make consequential amendments;

(f)         that a maximum of 30 minutes be allowed at any meeting for discussion of a petition, but that this can be extended by the Chairman when appropriate; and, where a decision or response is not reached at a meeting, that the petition stand referred to the relevant Portfolio Holder to respond; and

(g)        that the Democratic Services Team Leader undertake immediate investigation of alternative software provision, including the possibility of an in-house solution, in consultation with the Head of ICT and the Policy and Performance Portfolio Holder, and

 

(ii)            RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL the adoption of the Petition Scheme in respect of non-executive functions.

29.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 14 KB

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The plan will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the forward plan.

Minutes:

The contents of the Forward Plan were NOTED

30.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 20 July 2010, commencing at 11am

Minutes:

It was NOTED that the next meeting would be held at 11am on 20 July 2010.