Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies intimated.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Minutes of Short Life Working Group on Political Management Arrangements of 22 September 2016

The Minutes of the Short Life Working Group held on 22 September 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Short Life Working Group considered a report which provided information on the Committee Structures, Area Committees and Scrutiny arrangements adopted by other Scottish Local Authorities together with feedback on the engagement with Members in relation to their views on how the current Political Management Arrangements are working.

Councillor Colville left the meeting at 3.30pm.

Decision

The Short Life Working Group:

1.    Requested Officers to draft a report for the next meeting based on a range of options of Committee structures based on page 6 of the submitted report, including Area Committees, and on the points raised below.

2.    Requested that the Community Planning Manager draft a report for the next meeting based on the themes of community engagement and localism, to assist further consideration of how best to engage with communities.

Points raised during discussion.

·         PPSL Committee fit for purpose.

·         Full Council taking all decisions not fit for purpose.

·         Consider possibilities to combine Audit and PRS Committee.

·         Locality arrangements.

·         More delegation to committees so that reports are not coming before more than one Committee, and how would this amend the Constitution.

·         Time limits on discussion of items at meetings, and /or items on an agenda purely for noting .

(Ref: Report by Executive Director of Customer Services dated 11 October 2016, submitted)

Report by Executive Director of Customer Services

The Short Life Working Group considered a report which provided a high level overview of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2016-17 which included reference to the Islands Bill. The report also provided an update on the Community Engagement Bill and highlighted issues Members may wish to take into consideration in the review of Political Management Arrangements.

Decision

The Short Life Working Group noted the contents of the submitted report.

(Ref: Report by the Executive Director of Customer Services dated 11 October 2016, submitted)