Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Glancy.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chief Executive to submit a report updating Members and requesting their comments on the work carried out by the Governance Development Group (‘the Group’), which will form the basis of a further report of the Chief Executive to be considered at an extraordinary meeting of Full Council and enabling Members to consider and comment on the deferred items from the Constitution Review 2017/18, which were presented to a meeting of this Committee on 27 March 2018.

The Chief Executive

(a)  submitted a report (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members) updating this Committee and requesting comments on the work carried out by the Governance Development Group (the Group), which would form the basis of a further report of the Chief Executive to be considered at an Extraordinary meeting of Council and enabling Members to consider and comment on the deferred items from the Constitution Review 2017/18, which were presented to a meeting of this Committee on 27 March 2018;

(b)  circulated additional copies of Appendices A, B and D of the report, with recent amendments highlighted yellow on the Appendices;

(c)  provided an overview of the report, including some background to the Governance Review.  Following the Local Government Association’s Peer Challenge in December 2017, a report, a list of recommendations and an action plan was accepted by Full Council on 22 February 2018.  One of the recommendations was to improve the Council’s governance and decision making arrangements.  The Local Government Association carried out a further review of this function between 12 and 14 March.  The remit of the review was to explore where the Council could improve, streamline and clarify its policy development, committee system and decision making arrangements.  A peer Member and an officer from the Local Government Association met with Members and officers involved in supporting the decision making processes.  They then provided a report, which was submitted to a meeting of this Committee on 27 March.  At the meeting this Committee supported the establishment of an informal Member/officer group (the Group) and tasked it with bringing forward proposals to both strengthen and streamline the current committee structure creating a clearer route for policy development;

(d)  advised that the Group’s proposals were submitted to this meeting for Member comment and these would be circulated as an addendum for the Extraordinary Council meeting on 8 May;

(e)  highlighted the following proposed changes to the committee structure:-

                      i.        There would be a change to the number of policy committees, to realign them with the new corporate structure and corporate priorities.  Corporate Committee, People Committee and Place Committee would replace Policy, Finance and Administration Committee, Community and Social Affairs Committee, Melton Economic  and Environmental Affairs Committee and Town Area Committee.  Attempts had been made to minimise potential for duplication and create clear scope and responsibility for all matters within the remit of the committees, including policy setting, delivery and performance etc

                    ii.        Town Area Committee would be removed.  The Local Government Association found that the role of this Committee was not widely understood and created significant overlaps of responsibilities with other committees.  This was frustrating for Members.  Removing it and incorporating its responsibilities within the other committees would help remove duplication and improve clarity of responsibilities.  The aim was to support and work towards the development of a Town and Place Partnership with more stakeholder involvement and a focus on regeneration and tourism.  First steps towards this would be the establishment of a steering group,  ...  view the full minutes text for item G71

To consider any other items that the Chair considers urgent.

There was no urgent business.