Agenda and minutes

General Purposes Committee - Monday, 19th October, 2020 2.00 pm

Venue: Remote

Contact: Email: harriet.speight@leeds.gov.uk 

Link: to View Meeting Recording

Items
No. Item

1.

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.

2.

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.

3.

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. However, an updated version of the report and appendices to Item 7 were published as supplementary information (Minute 7 refers).

4.

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:

There were no declarations of interest.

5.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Lewis and Councillor W Kidger.

 

 

6.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 191 KB

To receive and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28th January 2020.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on the 28 January 2020 be approved as a correct record.

7.

Amendments to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 148 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Financial Services) that sets out proposed amendments to the Constitution reflecting amendments to the Leader’s executive arrangements reported to Council on 16th September 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The City Solicitor submitted a report that set out proposed amendments to the Constitution reflecting amendments to the Leader’s executive arrangements reported to Council on 16th September 2020.

 

Updated versions of the report and appendices were circulated prior to the meeting, to reflect:

 

·  That the report is of the City Solicitor who, as Monitoring Officer, has statutory responsibility for maintenance of the Council’s constitution;

·  That the request to amend the Monitoring Officer Protocol has been removed from the report as responsibility for this document lies with the Standards and Conduct Committee.

 

RESOLVED - That it be recommended to Full Council that the Constitution be amended as set out in Appendix A and Appendix B of the report.

 

 

8.

Review of Delegated Decision Making Arrangements pdf icon PDF 263 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Financial Services) that reviews arrangements made to enable publication and recording of delegated decision making during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The review identifies learning in relation to practice and procedure which ensures that arrangements for delegated decision making, both in relation to business as usual and emergency response, are necessary, proportionate and fit for purpose. The report recommends an amendment to the Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Financial Services) submitted a report that reviewed arrangements made to enable publication and recording of delegated decision making during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The review identified learning in relation to practice and procedure which ensures that arrangements for delegated decision making, both in relation to business as usual and emergency response, are necessary, proportionate and fit for purpose. The report recommended an amendment to the Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules.

 

RESOLVED –

 

a)  That the review of decisions taken during the period of emergency response and recovery in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, be noted;

b)  That the arrangements for recording of delegated decisions as set out in Appendix B ‘How To Record a Delegated Decision’ guidance for officers, together with the proposal to use of the Delegated Decision Notice, as attached at Appendix A, for creating a record of delegated decisions, be noted; and

c)  That it be recommended to Full Council that the Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules be amended as set out in Appendix C of the report.

 

 

9.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place Wednesday, 9th December, 2020 at 4.00 p.m.

Minutes:

The next meeting will take place Wednesday, 9th December, 2020 at 4.00 p.m.