Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2   To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3   If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items added to the agenda.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Golton, Blake and A Carter.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes held on 4^th February 2011.

RESOLVED  - That the minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 4^th February 2011 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) recommending an amendment to the Officer Delegation Scheme (Council (non-executive) Functions) to appoint the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance), Head of Licensing and Registration and Electoral Services Manager as deputy Returning Officers and deputy Electoral Registration Officers.

The Head of Governance Services informed the Committee that further work had become necessary on the revisions to the delegation scheme.

RESOLVED  -  General Purposes Committee resolved to withdraw the report from the agenda.

(Councillor A Blackburn entered the meeting at 9:14pm during the discussion of this item)

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) proposing a number of changes to Article 4 of the Constitution, the Budget and Policy framework, which reflects changes to the city’s partnership and planning framework.

The Head of Corporate Policy and Performance presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement). The report proposed amendments to the Budget and Policy Framework and made recommendations to full Council to amend Article 4 of the Constitution.

Members discussed changes to the planning framework and noted the need to ensure that accountability for expenditure by the Council on crime and disorder is not adversely affected by any partnerships required to be set up in due course by the Policing Reform Bill when enacted.

RESOLVED - General Purposes Committee resolved to:

(a)  recommend to full Council to approve the amendments to Article 4, as set out in Appendix 2 in the report, and the consequential amendments set out in paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8 of the report, all amendments to be of effect from the new municipal year 2011/12; and

(b)  receive a briefing note detailing the possible partnership arrangements  that may be required to be set up by the Policing Reform Bill.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) notifying and inviting comment from the Committee upon the work programme.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report notifying Members of the draft work programme for the 2010/11 municipal year.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to agree that the draft work programme for 2010/11 be noted.