Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Breslin, Horn, MacDonald, McCuish, Mulvaney, Philand and Robertson.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Short Life Working Group held on 29 October 2013

The Minutes of the Short Life Working Group on Political Management Arrangements held on 29 October 2013 were approved as a correct record.

The SLWG considered the draft changes to the Scheme of Delegation with regard to Sections 1 and 2, appointment of, constitution of, terms of reference and delegation to Committees. The SLWG also considered the expressions of interest from elected Members on the preferred Committee roles.

Decision

The SLWG met and agreed in principle to:

1. Continue with the current number of Members on the PPSL, PRS, Audit and Area Committees.

2. The Membership of the Policy & Resources, Community Services and Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committees be not less than 12 and not more than 16 and to Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Customer Services in consultation with Councillors Walsh, E Morton, Taylor and Semple to bring back recommendations for the SLWG’s final report.

3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Customer Services in consultation with Councillors Walsh, E Morton, Taylor and Semple to discuss and engage with elected members as to the membership of the Committees referred to at 2. above.

4. Endorse the draft scheme of delegation with the amendments discussed by the SLWG.

(Ref: Draft Scheme of Delegation to Committees dated 11 December 2013 and Note of Expressions of Interest, submitted)

The SLWG considered the draft role profiles for the newly Elected Member Policy Leads. The draft roles had also been sent to all Policy Leads for comments.

Decision

The SLWG noted the draft role profiles which were out for discussion with Policy Leads and to note the Central Governance Manager will liaise directly with Policy Leads and the relevant Executive Director on the detail of these.

(Ref: Draft role profiles for the Policy Leads dated 11 December 2013, submitted)

The SLWG considered a report which advised on a proposed process for a protocol to confirm the duties and responsibilities of the Council’s monitoring officer, and to allow for the efficient discharge of these.

Decision

The SLWG agreed:

1. to strengthen the role of the Monitoring Officer as outlined in the report.

2. to develop the protocol as attached to the report.

3. that the SLWG noted the various views on the proposal to establish a Standards Committee and would give further consideration to it;

4. that the matter of the Standards Committee be brought back to the SLWG to make a recommendation to the Council.

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 11 December 2013, submitted)