Agenda and minutes
PDF 82 KBVenue: 160 Tooley Street
Contact: Julie Timbrell E-mail: julie.timbrell@southwark.gov.uk Tel: 020 7525 1031
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Introduction and welcome by the Chair
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Apologies
Minutes: 1.1 Cllr Columba Blango gave apologies. |
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Minutes of the last meeting
To agree the minutes of 23 September 2010 Supporting documents: Minutes: 3.1 The minutes were agreed. Cllr Glover noted that on page 4 his point was that we need to find a balance between involving residents in assembly meetings and allowing elected members sufficient time to debate issues. |
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Feedback from other Local Authorities
Reviewing the implementation of changes to Council Assembly Supporting documents: Minutes: 4.1 The paper circulated on other Local Authorities reviews of Council Assembly was presented. The experiences of Nottingham City Council, Birmingham City Council and Bath & North East Somerset were considered. |
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Reviewing and agreeing the draft recommendations
Supporting documents: Minutes: 5.1 Members agreed to consider the table of recommendations circulated under this item. This detailed areas of agreement and proposed amendments by the respective political groups represented on the commission.
5.2 Members agreed points 1 -3 of the table, where there was consensus.
5.3 On point 4 Cllr Anood Al-Samerai said that her understanding from the consultation undertaken by the commission was that more decision making powers would attract more people to meetings. There was a discussion around the scope for more plans to go to Assembly for decision. Officers advised that there is potential for some additional plans to be included in the policy framework agreed yearly by the Council Assembly, however officers cautioned members that the Assembly cannot decide something that is an ‘executive function’. The Constitutional Steering Panel would be best place to consider if additional plans could be included in the policy framework. Generally high level plans can be decided by the Assembly. If a plan is not presently in the policy framework it is usually decided by Cabinet.
5.4 Cllr Mohamed noted that the cabinet had referred extra plans to Assembly, and made reference to the Accommodation Strategy.
5.5 It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could refer particular plans for debate, but not decision, unless the plan was already in the policy framework.
5.6 Members also noted that many of the current plans may no longer be a requirement of the new government; some of the plans are also 3 year plans so may not be due to for consideration and furthermore, many of these plans may not be very engaging.
5.7 It was noted that the Council Assembly Business Panel could look forward and recommend plans and strategies that the Assembly would be well placed to debate. These would then need to be agreed in advance.
5.8 There was a discussion about the Council Assembly Business Panel and agreement that it would consist of a representative from all the political groups and advise the Mayor. It would meet twice a year.
5.9 Changes were agreed to point 5.1 and it was decided that the Constitutional Steering Panel should advise on an appropriate number of signatures needed to trigger a debate on a petition in Council Assembly. This would then come to Council Assembly for a final decision. The Commission recommended 1,000 be this trigger.
5.10 It was decided that Community Councils will be able to raise issues via questions rather than motions. Point 5.5 will be deleted and 6.2 amended, as detailed in the attached and amended Southwark Democracy Commission Recommendations.
5.11 There was a discussion about public questions and whether the commission would endorse the recommendation for approximately 15 minutes pre-submitted questions by the public on the themed section of the meeting. There was a debate on whether the existing opportunity for public questions at the beginning of the meeting should remain. It was agreed that both opportunities for public questions should be endorsed by the commission.
5.12 There was ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Next stage
Minutes: 6.1 The finalised recommendations will be put to the 19th October 2010 Cabinet meeting for endorsement.
6.2 The agreed recommendations will go to the 20th October 2010 Council Assembly meeting for debate and agreement. Following this they will be implemented by the Constitutional Steering Panel, Cabinet and the Chair; Cabinet lead Cllr Mohamed. Any constitutional changes arising from implementation of the recommendations will then need to be agreed by a subsequent Council Assembly.
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