Agenda item

Report of the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities

The City Council considered the following documents which were tabled at the meeting:

(i)  Political Proportionality 2026/27

(ii)  Amendments to the Constitution in relation to quorums for Scrutiny Boards

(iii)  Appointment of Council Bodies and Outside Bodies

(iv)  Approval of the Scheme of Delegation as set out in the Constitution

(v)  A programme of meetings for Council and Cabinet

Arising from discussion and concerns raised on the proposal to reduce the size of the Scrutiny Boards from 9 Members to 6 Members and consequently, the size of quorums for those Scrutiny Boards to 3 Members, the Leader indicated that the position would be reviewed in October 2026. In addition it was noted that Scrutiny Members can attend all meetings of Scrutiny.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Approve the allocation of seats on Council bodies in accordance with the requirements of political proportionality as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, the establishment of those Council bodies and the terms of reference for those bodies as set out in the Constitution.

2.  Approve that the quorum of the Scrutiny Boards now be amended to three Members, following a change to the size of Scrutiny Boards in line with the requirements of political proportionality, and that authority to amend the Constitution accordingly be delegated to the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities.

3.  Approve that in respect of 1 and 2 above, the size of Scrutiny Boards, together with the amended quorum, be reviewed in October 2026.

4.  Approve that the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities be delegated authority to appoint to those Council bodies, referred to in Recommendations 1 above, including the appointment of the Chair and Deputy Chair (where appropriate), and Outside Bodies in accordance with the proportionality as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, following consultation with the Leader and the Group Leaders and that all of the appointments to Council Bodies and Outside Bodies be submitted to the next meeting of the City Council.

(Note: the following appendices are attached to these Minutes:

Appendix 1 – Appointment to Council Bodies

Appendix 2 – Appointment to Outside Bodies)

5.  Approve the Scheme of Delegation as set out in the Constitution.

6.  Approve the dates for Council meetings 2026/27, including the date of the Annual General Meeting, 2027/28, and dates for Cabinet meetings 2026/27 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report submitted.

7.  Delegate authority to the Director of Law, Governance and Safer Communities to set the dates for all other meetings for the municipal year, following consultation with the relevant Chairs of the relevant bodies. 

Note: In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.2, a named vote being required by Councillors J Gardiner and F Beechey, the Councillors voting For and Against the Recommendations were as follows:

For: 32

Against: 19

Abstain: 0

(Note: Councillor J Innes was absent for this vote)