Review of the Constitution : Executive on 03/06/2003

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Executive held on 03/06/2003
Review of the Constitution

Summary & Purpose

This report sets out the position on the review of Waverley’s Constitution, following the work of the New Constitution Special Interest Group (SIG) and the District Auditor’s Review.

Quality of Life Implications

Natural Resource Use	Pollution Prevention and Control	Biodiversity and Nature	Local Environment	Social Inclusion	Safe, Healthy and Active Communities	Local Economy
Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive

APPENDIX M

WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE - 3RD JUNE

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Title:

REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION

[Wards Affected: All]

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Summary and purpose:

This report sets out the position on the review of Waverley’s Constitution, following the work of the New Constitution Special Interest Group (SIG) and the District Auditor’s Review.

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Quality of life implications – social, environmental & economic (sustainable development):

The recommendations in the report are intended to streamline decision making, reduce use of paper for Committee Agenda and to help members implement their proposals for improving the quality of life in the Borough.

E-Government implications:

The Council will continue to develop use of information technology by and for Members and to improve its website access to the decision making process.

Resource and legal implications:

The Council has a duty to review its Constitution to ensure it is effective in achieving the Government’s aims in the modernising agenda and that it helps Waverley implement its policies.

The Special Interest Group did not make any assessment of the resource implication of its proposals, as it felt that it should make recommendations on the changes it considered would improve the way the Constitution worked and that the Executive would then have to weigh up any resource implications.

Review of the Constitution

1. The detailed report of the Special Interest Group is attached at Annexe 1.

Current Position

2. The procedural changes agreed by the Council have been implemented and included in the revised Constitution. However, a range of issues of principle and procedures recommended by the SIG remains unresolved. The main areas are as follows:-

Overview and Scrutiny

1. Committee membership and effectiveness.

2. Role of Special Interest Groups.

3. Focus and role in Overview.

Executive

1. Delegation to Officers; and

2. Role of Overview and Scrutiny in performance monitoring

Consequential Changes to the Constitution

3. These would follow from any changes agreed by the Council.

The Way Forward

4. The Executive is asked to agree if it wishes to progress with considering the unresolved issues recommended by the New Constitution SIG and if so, to agree a process and timescale for this.

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Background Papers (CEx)

District Audit “Democratic Renewal” Report on Waverley Borough Council – January 2003

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CONTACT OFFICER:

Name: Robin Pellow Telephone: 01483 523222
E-mail: rpellow@waverley.gov.uk

comms/executive/2003-04/117