Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from any members of the Committee.

There were no apologies.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) they may have in relation to any item(s) of business on today’s agenda.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2023 and those of the previously named General Purposes and Audit Committee held on:

·       16 September 2021;

·       20 October 2021;

·       25 November 2021; and,

·       16 February 2022 as an accurate record of the proceedings.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2023 and those of the previously named General Purposes and Audit Committee held on the following dates as accurate records of the proceedings:

·       16 September 2021

·       20 October 2021

·       25 November 2021

·       16 February 2022.

To consider any urgent business.

There were no items of urgent business.

To consider increasing the size of the substitution pool for the Appointments

and Disciplinary Committee (ADC).

The Deputy Monitoring Officer, Looqman Desai, presented the report which proposed changes to the constitution to allow for the number of substitutes that could be appointed to the Appointment and Disciplinary Committee to be tripled.

He informed the Committee the changes were recommended by the Constitution Working Group following their consideration and deliberations on 16 November 2023 and advised that Members recommend the changes to  Council for approval.

The Chair advised the proposed changes and the training for Members being organised by the Learning and Development Panel would make the recruitment process robust.

RESOLVED:

To recommend to full Council the proposed changes to the Constitution set out at paragraph 5.6 of the report.

To make any comments and necessary amendments to the proposed Council calendar of meetings 2024-25.  

The Committee was informed of some errors in Appendix A and officers were advised that the necessary amendments be made to correct the errors and reflect the Committee’s decision after the meeting and before approval by Council.

The Chair proposed that pre-council political group meetings dates should be included in the calendar.

Members asked questions about contingency plans in the case of clashes with general election and additional meeting dates for planning committees.

It was explained that contingency plans included rescheduling meetings and additional dates could be added by any committee as and when needed.

Members were informed that an additional meeting of the committee was needed to discuss updates on the review of polling stations and districts.

RESOLVED:

1.1  To note the Cabinet meeting dates for the municipal year 2024-25

1.2  To recommend that full Council approves the meeting dates for all other

       committees for the municipal year 2024-25.

1.3  To approve 17 January 2024 as the date of the next meeting of the

       Committee.