Report: See supplemental agenda 2, pages 28-41 and addendum report circulated at the meeting, pages 1-2
The report had not been circulated five clear business days in advance of the meeting. The report was accepted by the Mayor as late and urgent because the provisions relating to petition schemes come into force on 15 June 2010. The scheme must be approved by council assembly by virtue of section 11(2) of the Act. There is no other meeting before the prescribed date.
The Mayor stated that in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 2.10(2), the recommendations set out in the report and the addendum report were deemed to been moved and were subject to amendment only. He explained that no amendments had been received on the reports. The recommendations in the reports were put to the vote and declared to be carried.
RESOLVED:
1. That the petition scheme attached in Appendix 1 and the constitutional changes in Appendix 2 of the report be approved, subject to the inclusion of a revised threshold for the number of signatories required for a petition to request a debate by council assembly on a particular matter be amended from a threshold of 3,000 to 2,500 - as recommended by constitutional steering panel on 18 May 2010.
Therefore, in Appendix 2 of the report the constitutional change to council assembly procedure note 2.4 (1) would read as follows:
2.4 PETITIONS TO COUNCIL ASSEMBLY
This rule cannot be suspended.
Which meetings consider petitions?
1.
Members of the public or
councillorsMembers of the council will
be entitled to present petitions with 2,500 or more signatures to the Mayor at each
council assembly meeting except the annual meeting or the council
tax setting meeting.
2. That the strategic director of communities, law & governance be instructed to make preparations for the implementation of an e-petitioning facility.