34 Joint Councillor / Officer Relationship Protocol PDF 71 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Council considered a report which sought approval to adopt a new Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol. Councillors acknowledged that a good relationship based on mutual trust, respect and courtesy, between Councillors and Officers was essential for the smooth running of the Council.
The proposed Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol which was appended to the report governed the different roles and responsibilities of Councillors and Officers, sets out expectations and provided a framework for how they should work together.
The Joint Constitutions Review Group (JCRG) had reviewed the Councillor/ Officer Relationship Protocol at its meeting held on 29 May 2024. The JCRG agreed to recommend approval of the new Joint Protocol to both the Corporate Governance & Standards Committee and to Waverley’s Standards & General Purposes Committee at their special meetings which were held simultaneously on 1 July 2024, with a further recommendation that each Committee recommends the adoption of the Protocol to their respective full Council meetings. The Corporate Governance & Standards Committee had recommended that the Joint Councillor/ Officer Relationship Protocol be adopted as part of the Council’s Constitution.
Upon the motion of the Lead Councillor for Regulatory & Democratic Services, Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julia McShane, the Council
RESOLVED: That the proposed Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Council, be adopted into the Council’s Constitution to replace the existing Protocol on Councillor/Officer Relations.
Reasons:
· It is imperative, for the benefit of those who live, work and do business in our Borough, that Councillors and Officers are clear on their differing roles and responsibilities and have good working relationships between them based on mutual trust and respect.
· It is good practice for Councils to have a Protocol in place setting out the expectations arising from the relationship between Councillors and Officer.
24 Joint Councillor / Officer Relationship Protocol PDF 72 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report on the recent review of a proposed new Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol, which had been undertaken by the Joint Constitutions Review Group (JCRG), at its meeting held on 29 May 2024. A good relationship based on mutual trust, respect and courtesy, between Councillors and Officers was essential for the smooth running of the Council.
The proposed Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol would govern the different roles and responsibilities of Councillors and Officers and set out expectations and provide a framework for how they should work together.
The JCRG had recommended approval of the new Protocol, a copy of which was appended to the report and, if approved, would replace the existing Protocol on Councillor/Officer relations in the Constitution. The JCRG had further recommended that this Committee recommends the adoption of the new Protocol to the full Council.
The Committee, having noted that there would be training on the Protocol for councillors and officers,
RESOLVED: That the full Council at its meeting on 23 July 2024, be requested to adopt into the Council’s Constitution, the proposed Joint Councillor/Officer Relationship Protocol, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Committee.
Reasons:
· It is imperative, for the benefit of those who live, work and do business in our Borough’s, that Councillors and Officers are clear on their differing roles and responsibilities and have good working relationships between them based on mutual trust and respect.
· It is good practice for Councils to have a Protocol in place setting out the
expectations arising from the relationship between Councillors and Officer.
Action: |
Officer to action: |
To refer the Committee’s recommendation to full Council on 23 July 2024 |
Democratic Services & Elections Manager |