Issue - meetings

The Council considered a report from the Monitoring Officer which noted that compliance with good governance in respect of officer decision making could be improved at the Council.

The report had set out a protocol which sought to ensure clarity around the Council’s expectations as to officer decision making and their adopted procedures.  The protocol also provided a governance framework that promoted transparency, accountability, scrutiny, consultation, and decision making at an appropriate level with member engagement.

At its meeting held on 21 November 2024, the Joint Constitutions Review Group had considered this matter and had recommended to the Corporate Governance & Standards Committee that it recommends adoption of the Protocol by full Council.

During the Committee’s debate on this matter at its meeting held on 16 January 2025, it had been suggested that the penultimate bullet-point in paragraph 3.3 of the Protocol could be amended to read:

“Any relevant professional advice from other Officers such as legal and/or finance colleagues, including third party advice, where appropriate;”

Upon the motion of the chair of the Corporate Governance & Standards Committee, Councillor Phil Bellamy, seconded by the vice-chair of that Committee, Councillor Bob Hughes, the Council

RESOLVED:  That the Officer Decision Making Protocol, attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Council, be adopted into the Constitution, subject to the amendment of the penultimate bullet-point in paragraph 3.3 of the Protocol so that it reads:

“Any relevant professional advice from other Officers such as legal and/ or finance colleagues, including third party advice, where appropriate;”

Reasons:

·      To ensure clarity around Officer Decision Making.

·      To provide a governance framework for officer decision making that ensures compliance with statutory requirements and promotes transparency, accountability, scrutiny, consultation and member engagement.

The Committee considered a report from the Monitoring Officer which noted that compliance with good governance in respect of officer decision making could be improved by the Council.

The report had set out a protocol which sought to ensure clarity around the Council’s expectations as to officer decision making and their adopted procedures.  The protocol also provided a governance framework that promoted transparency, accountability, scrutiny, consultation, and decision making at an appropriate level with member engagement.

At its meeting held on 21 November 2024, the Joint Constitutions Review Group had considered this matter and had recommended to this Committee that it recommends adoption of the Protocol by full Council.

During the Committee’s debate on this matter, it was suggested that the penultimate bullet-point in paragraph 3.3 of the Protocol could be amended to read:

“Any relevant professional advice from other Officers such as legal and/or finance colleagues, including third party advice, where appropriate;”

Having considered the report, the Committee

RESOLVED:  To recommend to the Council, at its extraordinary meeting on 22 January 2025, the adoption into the Constitution of the Officer Decision Making Protocol, attached as Appendix 1 to the report to the Committee, subject to the above amendment.

Reasons:

·      To ensure clarity around Officer Decision Making.

·      To provide a governance framework for officer decision making that ensures compliance with statutory requirements and promotes transparency, accountability, scrutiny, consultation and member engagement.