Argyll and Bute Council Constitution - 12. Procedural Motions

1. The Provost may adjourn a meeting for a reasonable interval if s/he decides there is a good reason to do so. (CS)
    
2. The Council may adjourn any meeting for a reasonable interval or to another date as the Council may agree then, or that failing, the Provost may decide then or afterwards. The vote on such a motion, on being seconded, will be taken without amendment or discussion and by roll call vote. A similar motion to adjourn to another day will not be competent within a period of one hour after the decision on the earlier motion. (CS)

Closing debate

3. The following closure motions will be permitted during discussion of another motion provided the Member moving the closure motion has not spoken during the debate.  They will be moved, seconded and voted on without discussion.  The Provost will proceed as follows – (CS)
   1. “That the question be now put
      
      If the Provost considers the matter has not been sufficiently discussed, she/he may refuse to accept the motion; if the motion is accepted it will be put to the vote.  If the motion is carried, the movers of any amendment and of the original motion will be entitled to a right of reply and the Provost will then put the original motion and amendment to the vote.  If the closure motion is not carried, a similar motion may be made after every three additional Members have spoken.
       
   2.  “That the meeting do now adjourn”
      
      If the Provost is satisfied that the matter before the meeting has been well enough discussed, s/he may refuse to accept this closure motion and instead put the motion “that the question be now put”. If the Provost is of the opinion that the matter has not been sufficiently discussed and cannot reasonably be discussed any longer on that occasion, the adjournment motion will be put to the vote without giving the mover of the original motion or amendment a right of reply; if the adjournment motion is carried, the original motion and remaining business will stand over until a resumed meeting of the Council.  If this closure motion is not carried, a similar motion will not be competent within a period of one hour after the decision on the previous closure motion.