Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: April 16, 2025

Purpose:

Content: (i)             to approve Appendix C, Committee Terms of Reference, with effect from 21 April 2025; (ii)           to approve Appendix D, Powers Delegated to Officers, with effect from 17 April 2025, and delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Governance to make any further changes to Appendix 1 of that document which are necessary to reflect such approval; (iii)          to approve Appendix E, Standing Orders for Council, Committee and Sub-Committee Meetings, with effect from 21 April 2025, subject to the following amendment:- 29.4    Motions and amendments submitted in accordance with Standing Order 29.1 will be circulated to all Members (of Council, the Committee or Sub-Committee) by 4pm on the working day prior to the relevant meeting, providing they have been finalised and determined by the Convener to be competent. However, if such motions and amendments are not finalised and determined by the Convener to be competent by the said 4pm deadline, they will not be circulated unless with the consent of the Convener. and to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to make any other amendments to the Scheme of Governance  which may, in that Chief Officer’s opinion, be necessary to reflect the above amendment; and to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to report back to the July Council meeting with further proposed revisions concerning meeting structure and motions and amendments for requisitioned meetings, utilising further input from the Governance Reference Group, as described in paragraph 4.3.4; (iv)          to approve Appendix F, Financial Regulations, with effect from 21 April 2025; (v)           to approve Appendix G, Procurement Regulations, with effect from 21 April 2025; (vi)          to approve Appendix H, Member - Officer Relations Protocol, with effect from 21 April 2025; (vii)        to approve Appendix I, General Fund Budget Protocol and Appendix J, Housing Revenue Account Budget Protocol, with effect from 21 April 2025 and instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to schedule an additional meeting of Council to consider the Housing Revenue Account in December of each year; (viii)       to note Appendix K, the Councillors’ Accessing Information Procedure Note, and instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Governance to issue and implement the proposed mechanism for elected members to request information from officers, effective from 21 April 2025; (ix)          to note that no changes are required to the Local Code of Corporate Governance at this time; (x)           to note the minutes of the Governance Reference Group of 18 October and 22 November 2024, and 22 January, 19 February and 12 March 2025, as contained at Appendix A; (xi)          to note the cross-party/independent working groups which are in place, including the addition of a Future Libraries Group, as outlined in paragraph 4.1.4; and (xii)        to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance and Chief Officer - People and Citizen Services to put in place a programme of officer and elected member training and development on scrutiny, as outlined in paragraph 4.17.