Agenda item

Report by the Associate Director, Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer on proposed changes to the Constitution as recommended by the Standards Committee from its meeting on 24 June 2015.

Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Hubs, Heritage & Arts,

Governance and Support Services presented a report which asked the meeting of Council to consider recommendations of the Standards Committee on changes to the Constitution.

Following a proposed amendment by Councillor Julian Johnson, regarding Councillor’s Questions, concerns were raised that this proposal had not been agreed at the Constitution Focus Group or Standards Committee. The Chairman agreed to a short adjournment to discuss the implications and wording of the proposed amendment.

Following the reconvening of the meeting, the following proposals were discussed and the meeting;

Resolved

1.    That Council approve changes to Part 4 of the Constitution in relation to public disturbances, recorded voting, the ‘State of Wiltshire’ debate and Councillors’ Questions, as shown in the attached tracked change document at Appendix 4. - subject to changes to clarify members may indicate prior to a meeting that they do not wish to ask a supplementary question, and that this will not count toward the limit of 20 to be received at the meeting, and to add to para 3 of the councillor question procedure note.

2.    That where a question submitted relates solely to operational issues the Member will be so informed, and such a question will be forwarded to the appropriate Head of Service or Director for a response. Such a question will only then be submitted if the Member either does not receive a response or has not received a response which the Member considers satisfactory.

3.    That Council approve changes to Protocols 1 and 2 of the Constitution, to include their integration into a single protocol and the renumbering of subsequent protocols, and an update to Part 2 of the Constitution, as shown in the attached tracked change document at Appendix 5.

4.    That Council approve changes to Protocol 7 of the Constitution as shown in the attached tracked change document at Appendix 6.

5.    That Council approve changes to Protocol 9 of the Constitution as shown in the attached tracked change document at Appendix 7.

6.    That Council approve changes to Protocol 11 of the Constitution as shown in the attached tracked change document at Appendix 8.