Decision details

The Council gave consideration to a report providing an overview of the work undertaken regarding the Council priority “Take forward a piece of work to support Area Committees to reshape their business, decision-making and overall activities to align with existing/emerging local plans and issues” and making recommendations for agreement. The report also gave details of the proposed application process for the Area Committees Priorities Funding which was agreed at the Council Budget meeting in February.

Decision

The Council –

1.    noted the detail provided in the report and the work undertaken by officers and Area Chairs to reshape Area Committee meeting arrangements;

2.    agreed that from August 2026 the number of Area Committees would be increased to 6 meetings per year at a cost of £45k per annum; noting that within the current financial year 2026-27, only half of this amount would be required (£22,500) and it was recommended, following consultation with the Council’s Section 95 Officer, that this was funded from the Unallocated General Fund, with the full year pressure built into the budget outlook going forward;

3.    delegated authority to the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support to make the relevant changes to the Council Constitution and the programme of meetings;

4.    agreed the updated protocol for business days as set out at Appendix 1;

5.    agreed the proposed application process for the delivery of the Area Committee Priority Funding; and

6.    noted that the funding was for the 2026/27 financial year only and would require to be allocated prior to 31 March 2027.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 24 June 2026, submitted)