Agenda item

2.1

The Executive Director, Resources submitted a report providing details of proposed changes to the operation of meetings of full Council following the trialling of changes at Council meetings during the 2017-18 Municipal Year and seeking the approval of Council, at its Annual Meeting on 16 May 2018, for changes to the Council Procedure Rules as set out in Part 4 of the Constitution.

2.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet recommends to the Annual Meeting of the City Council on 16 May 2018 that:-

(a)

Council adopts the changes to Part 4 of the Constitution – (Council Procedure Rules), as set out in the report and appendix; and

(b)

the Member working group continues to develop proposals during 2018/19 in accordance with its terms of reference.

2.3

Reasons For Recommendations

2.3.1

The review of full Council meetings is seeking to improve openness and accessibility and increase efficiency and effectiveness of meetings. The proposed changes have been trialled at full Council over several months and have been subject to consultation.

2.3.2

The Council wishes to make meetings accessible and open to people in order to address issues including engagement and transparency and increase participation by both members of the public and Members of the Council.

2.3.3

Any permanent change to Council Procedure Rules requires a recommendation of the Cabinet.

2.4

Alternative Options Considered

2.4.1

Alternative proposals for change have been considered and piloted as part of the review of full Council meetings and these have included:

(i) Changing the start time of the meeting to 5.00pm, which was piloted beginning in September 2017 and continued for the reminder of the Municipal Year 2017/18. Following consultation through the working group, the proposal is for meetings to start at 2pm with a duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes.

(ii) Considering Members’ Questions later in the meeting: during the pilot, this item was subsequently moved towards the beginning of the agenda.

2.4.2

Do nothing option – to revert back to the arrangements which operated up to the start of the Municipal Year 2017/18. This is not supported by the working group, as the changes operated during the pilot, many of which gained cross party support, would be lost.