Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director Corporate Services.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers, and the minor updates to the Financial Regulations and Standing Order No. 54, as set out in Appendix A of the report presented to the meeting.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which set out the proposals to amend the Scheme of Delegation to Officers to match operational arrangements of the Council, and ensuring suitable day to day operational decisions could be taken. The report also requested minor updates to the Constitution in respect of the Financial Regulations and Standing Order No. 54. The Scheme of Delegation was reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it was up to date.

Particular reference was made to the reference in Appendix A of the Director Net Zero and City Management in the role of the Duty Holder for the Exeter Port Authority which would be removed. The Director Net Zero and City Management and the Portfolio Holder for Place & City Management would investigate where the responsibility for the Duty Holder resided and report back to the Executive in due course.

Councillor Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item and sought clarification on the amendment to Standing Order No. 54 and whether the update was proposing to substitute the regulation to an earlier regulation and wished to ensure that the Council was using the correct regulations.

Councillor Jobson, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item and also enquired on the amendment to Standing Order No. 54 and the use of the correct regulations.

Councillor M. Mitchell, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item and enquired on the need for a Governance and Standards Sub-Committee to consider constitutional amendments prior to being received by the Executive.

In response to questions and points from Members, the Director Corporate Services advised that the amendment to Standing Order No. 54 was ensuring that the correct legislation was being referenced and that Council was using the correct legislation.

The Leader advised that there was no Governance Sub Committee and matters of updating the Constitution were a matter for the Executive to recommend to Council.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers, and the minor updates to the Financial Regulations and Standing Order 54 as set out in Appendix A of the report.