Agenda item

The Constitution Working Group has reviewed a number of elements of the Constitution and comment the attached elements to Council for approval.

Councillor Pearson, Chair of the Constitution Working Group (CWG), introduced the report and advised that Strategy and Resources has agreed in December 2019 to reconvene the CWG. The CWG had looked at several issues and had suggested amendments to many sections of the Constitution, proposed changes could be found in Appendices A-I. It was confirmed that the CWG was a cross-party group and that for most items they had reached a unanimous agreement.

Councillor Pearson also confirmed in response to an email received from Councillor Wilsher that the Parental Leave Policy was in line with the Staff parental leave policy and that allowances would be reviewed by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Councillor Davies proposed and Councillor Ross seconded.

Councillor Davies thanked those Members and Officers who had worked on the amendments and stated that the Constitution was an important part of how they make decisions. He also welcomed the Media Protocol and advised that the Covid Pandemic had shown that communication with our communities was important.

Councillor Cornell thanked Patrick Arran for his work with the CWG on the constitution. Councillor Ross thanked Councillor Pearson for his chairing of the CWG and that the group had taken part in heated debate and good discussions.

On being Put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.