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 Head of Governance Services 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)

The Chair admitted one late item to the agenda – Item 12 – Review of Council Meetings (Minute No.110 refers).

Also admitted by the Chair was supplementary information to Item 10 – Constitution Amendments in the form of Appendix  8 (Minute 108 refers).

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.

Councillor Wakefield declared a personal interest in Agenda item 7 – Election and Term of Office of the Leader – as the current Leader of the Council.

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received form Councillor Finnigan.

The clerk to the Committee notified Members that Councillors Wadsworth and Campbell had been appointed to the Committee to replace former Councillors Lobley and Mathews respectively.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th March 2012.

The minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 19^th March 2012 were approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of the City Solicitor informing the Committee about an amendment to the Local Government Act 2000, relating to the election and term of office of the Leader.

The City Solicitor presented her report which asked Members to consider provisions within the Council’s executive arrangements following amendments to the Local Government Act 2000.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council to:

(a)  confirm existing executive arrangements relating to the current term of office for the Leader during their term;

(b)  approve amendments to Council Procedure Rule 1 to reflect updated legislation and provide for the election of a Leader in the event of a vacancy; and

(c)  note that the City Solicitor proposes to exercise her delegated authority to update article 7 and Section 2A of Part 3 of the constitution, to reflect legislative changes.

(Councillor A Blackburn entered the meeting during the discussion of this item at 10:08 am)

To receive a report of the City Solicitor presenting proposals in relation to new conduct arrangements for Members under the Localism Act 2011.

Members considered the report by the City Solicitor which presented proposals in relation to new conduct arrangements for Members under the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor Nash provided an introduction to the report and thanked members of the Member working group responsible for the drafting of proposals before the committee.

The Head of Governance Services confirmed that that shortlisting (and any subsequent interviews) for an Independent Person will be conducted by Members.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to full Council to:

(a) adopt the code of conduct set out in appendix 1 to the report;

(b) delegate authority to the City Solicitor in consultation with Group Whips, to finalise the code of conduct in light of Regulations which will define disclosable Pecuniary Interests; and

(c) approve:

o  the terms of reference for a Standards and Conduct Committee set out in appendix 2 to the report, to be appointed to replace the existing Standards Committee.

o  amendments to Council Procedure Rule 26 to provide for substitute members for new Standards and Conduct Committee.

o  Procedure Rules for the handling of complaints that a Member may have failed to comply with the code of conduct, as set out in appendix 3 to the report.

To receive a report for the Director of Resources and the City Solicitor presenting proposed amendments to the Council’s Executive decision making framework.

The City Solicitor presented her report and the report of the Director of Resources. The report presented proposed amendments to the council’s Executive decision making framework. 

The City solicitor also informed the Committee that The Director of Resources and the City Solicitor have reviewed the Executive Decision Making arrangements and identified scope to:

·  enhance opportunities to ensure Ward Councillors are engaged at an early stage in the decisions which affect their constituencies;

·  speed up the implementation of decisions of Area Committees; and

·  make arrangements more transparent, with a focus on clear accountability.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full council to:

(a)  approve revised Article 13 as set out in Appendix 1 to this report;

(b)  approve Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules, as set out in Appendix 2  to this report; and

(c)  withdraw concurrent delegations to Chief Officers under the Council’s officer delegation scheme (Council functions).

To receive a report of the Director of Resources proposing amendments to the authority’s scrutiny arrangements, following an annual review by the Scrutiny Officer.

The Committee received a report which proposed amendments to the authority’s scrutiny arrangements following an annual review by the Scrutiny Officer.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council to:

(a)  approve revised terms of reference for Scrutiny Boards, as set out in appendices 1– 6 of the report;

(b)  approve revised Article 6 as set out in Appendix 7 to the report;

(c)  approve revised Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules as set out in appendix 8 to this report; and

(d)  endorse the proposal of the Scrutiny Officer to remove guidance notes from the constitution, which relate to inquiry selection criteria, minority reports and equality and diversity/cohesion and integration issues.

To receive a report of the City Solicitor asking the Committee to recommend amendments to the constitution to full Council, following the annual review of the constitution.

The Committee received the report which recommended amendments to the constitution to full Council, following the annual review of the constitution.

Members proposed and agreed that there should be a further amendment to the Area Committee Procedure Rules featured in the appendix to the report. This being that all nominations must be notified to the Head of Governance Services by no later than 5pm, the day before the meeting convened to consider the appointment of the Chair, as opposed to no later than 5pm 1 clear working day prior to the issue of the Summons for the Annual Council Meeting. 

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend to full Council to:

(a)  approve amendments to Area Committee Procedure Rule 5, as set out in the appendix  to the report, subject to the amendment proposed and agreed during discussion of the item being included in these amendments; and

(b)  remove the summary of delegated council functions, and appendix from Section 2A of Part 3 of the constitution.

To consider the proposals contained in the report of the Chief Executive in relation to modernising the operation of Full Council meetings, in particular to allow for greater opportunities for Council to engage in activities linked to Community Leadership and holding the Executive to account. 

The Committee received a report which contained proposals arising from discussions with Group Leaders and Whips and asked the Committee to recommend to full Council the adoption of the new arrangements for Council Meetings outlined within the report, with the necessary consequential arrangements to Council Procedure Rules being delegated to the City Solicitor in consultation with Group Whips.

Members discussed the report in detail giving opinions on the proposals.

RESOLVED – Members of the General Purposes Committee resolved to recommend that full Council:

(a)  agree a reformatted Council day by:

o  Introducing a new item to Council meetings, “Members’ community issues”.

o  Varying the order of Council business to allow for the receipt of recommendations from the Executive board and committees immediately after the item receiving reports from Statutory Officers.

o  Providing for full Council to receive minutes from joint authorities/committees, and the Leeds Initiative Strategic Partnerships, as well as committees.

o  Reducing the number of deputations to four.

o  Time limiting White Paper Motions, and reserving submission of the first to the opposition. 

(b)  agree that two State of the City meetings be held each municipal year;

(c)  delegate to the City Solicitor the agreement, in consultation with Group Whips, of the necessary consequential changes to the council procedure rules to facilitate the new arrangements.

Members of the General Purposes Committee also resolved to:

(d)  review the revised arrangements during the course of the municipal year; and

(e) note the options available to the Council to Live Stream Council meetings and request that a further report be  prepared for consideration by no later than July 2012.

(Councillor J Procter left the meeting at 10:44am during the discussion of this item)