Agenda for General Purposes Committee on Wednesday, 28th May, 2014, 10.00 am

General Purposes Committee - Wednesday, 28th May, 2014 10.00 am

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Contact: Phil Garnett 0113 39 51632

Items
No.	Item
36.	Appeals against refusal of inspection of documents To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 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 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting) Minutes: There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.
37.	Exempt Information - possible exclusion of the press and public 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:- Minutes: There were no resolutions to exclude the public.
38.	Late items To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration (The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes) Minutes: There were no late items submitted.
39.	Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2000 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. Minutes: No declarations were made.
40.	Apologies for absence To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Blackburn. Councillor A Blackburn was in attendance as substitute.
41.	Minutes - 4th March 2014 PDF 54 KB To receive the minutes of the Committee held on 4^th March 2014. Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th March 2014 be approved as a correct record.
42.	Constitutional Provision for Community Committees PDF 103 KB To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) and the City Solicitor. The report requests that General Purposes Committee recommend to Full Council the changes to the Constitution necessary to effect the change from the current Area Committee arrangements to the proposed Community Committee model, allowing greater freedom within the Committee setting to engage in the locality in the manner most suited to the neighbourhoods, citizens and communities represented. In doing this the report sets out the outcome of consultation in relation to the new community committee arrangements, which followed the resolutions of Executive Board made on 18th December 2013. Additional documents: GPC Appendix A Article 10 v3 , item 42. PDF 55 KB GPC Appendix B 11 Section 2B Community Committees TOR , item 42. PDF 50 KB GPC Appendix C 4(e) Community Committee Procedure Rules , item 42. PDF 73 KB Minutes: The Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) submitted a report which requested that the Committee recommended to full Council the changes to the constitution necessary to effect the change from the current Area Committee arrangements to the proposed Community Committee model allowing greater freedom to engage in the locality in the manner most suited to the neighbourhoods, citizens and communities represented. In doing this the report set out the outcome of consultation in relation to the new community committee arrangements, which followed the resolutions of Executive Board made on 18th December 2013. An amendment to Article 10, detailed in the submitted report was moved, the Kirkstall Ward be transferred from the boundary of the North West (Inner) to the boundary of the West (Inner) Community Committee. This amendment was proposed to balance the respective Community Committee membership owing to the increased responsibilities of Community Committees. All Members present agreed to this amendment. RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to recommend that: (a) The amendments to the constitution detailed within the submitted report and appendices A to C be considered by full Council subject to the amendment to Article 10 detailed above; and (b) The principles set out in Annexes 1 and 2 of the submitted report be noted.
43.	Review of all Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations PDF 89 KB To receive a report of the Head of Licensing and Registration which seeks To agree the process and timetable for the Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations. Additional documents: Appendix A - Timetable for Polling District Review v1 , item 43. PDF 64 KB Minutes: The Head of Licensing and Registration presented his report which sought to agree the process and timetable for the Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations. Members discussed accessibility to polling stations and noted that this will be fully considered at the next meeting of the Electoral Working Group. RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to: (a) Agree the process for the Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations as set out in the submitted report; (b) Agree the timetable for the Review as set out at Appendix A of the submitted report; and (c) Agree that Elections Working Group will be used as a working group to discuss the results of any representations received in response to both consultation exercises, and provide recommendations for General Purposes Committee’s consideration as set out in the submitted report.
44.	Webcasting of Council Meetings PDF 229 KB To receive a report of the City Solicitor which sets out background and provides information on the webcasting of Council meetings during the last Municipal Year. The purpose of the report is to seek Member’s views on whether Council meetings should continue to be webcast and, if so, asks Members to determine the period of time by which the existing contract should be extended. Minutes: The City Solicitor submitted a report which set out the background and provided information on the webcasting of Council meetings during the last Municipal Year. The purpose of the report was to seek Member’s views on whether Council meetings should continue to be webcast and, if so, asked Members to determine the period of time by which the existing contract should be extended. RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to agree to continue webcasting Council meetings and approve the Officer recommendation of an extension of a 12 month period.