Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities meeting held on 7 July 2022

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

To consider the petition ‘Request for the installation of a Children’s Play Area in Moseley Avenue Park’ bearing 510 signatures, which is being supported by Councillor G Lloyd, a Sherbourne Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser.

The consideration of this item was deferred to the Cabinet Member scheduled for Thursday 29 September 2022.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which outlined proposed changes to the Constitution.

The Council’s Constitution sets out how the Council carries out its business and makes decisions. It is a living documents which would need updating from time to time to ensure that it reflects changes in practices within the Council.

The Constitutional Advisory Panel at its meeting on 12 July considered the following proposed changes to the Constitution:

(a)  Clarification of Notices of Motion for Council (paragraph 9.1 of the Council Procedure Rules); and

(b)  Casual vacancy – Failure to Attend meetings (insertion of a new paragraph into the Constitution to facilitate prompt declaration of a Casual Vacancy).

(a)  The proposed changes sought to clarify the submission and consideration of Motions at Council meetings. Since 2005, Motions have been submitted by “Political Groups” which consist of two or more Members. A solo Member is not considered to be a Political Group, in line with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990. Prior to June 2022, when a Motion was submitted by a Green Party Councillor, there had not been a request to consider a Motion from an individual Member, supported by a Member from one of the Political Groups.

Paragraph 9.1 of the Constitution is silent in relation to cross-party Motions and how these should be treated. Cross-Party Motions considered at Council would normally occur after the agenda had been published, where both Political Groups have submitted a Motion on the same issue which is then amended with a Motion that is proposed by a Member from one Political Group and seconded by a Member from another Political Group. This was allowed because under the Procedure Rules, there is no limitation on amendments in relation to proposers or seconders being from “one Political Group”. 

There was consensus by the Advisory Panel that there should continue to be one Motion submitted per Political Group, however, that Motion could be signed (either moved or seconded) by any Member, including any individual Member or Member of a different Group.

It was proposed that Paragraph 9.1 be revised as set out below:

Every notice of Motion to be inserted in the summons for the next meeting of the City Council will be in writing and signed by the Councillor intending to move it and by the Councillor intending to second it. The notice must be delivered to the City Solicitor at a location* designated by her/him or sent electronically to Governance Services, not later than 9.00 a.m. at least 5 clear working days before the date scheduled for the meeting of the City Council. Any hard copy motions received will be date stamped and scanned by Governance Services. The City Solicitor will only accept notices of motion which fulfil these requirements and will not accept more than one notice of motion per Political Group**. Should a Councillor from a Political Group wish to second a Motion submitted by an individual Councillor, then the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

To consider any other items of business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.