Issue - meetings

To consider the indicative timetable and discuss potential visits and evidence gathering.

Members discussed the Governance Review’s timetable, with particular regard paid to the disruption caused by the snap Parliamentary Election.

The Chief Executive said a realistic timetable allowed for a modification to the current governance model in April 2020, but it would not be possible to implement wholesale structural change until May 2021. She said pre-scrutiny would be vital to this modified system, and would allow all members to add value to the decision making process. This would also give the Working Group time to consult the public over any proposed changes during the summer of 2020.

The Assistant Director – Governance and Legal services said the scrutiny function could be modified prior to May 2020 by changing UDC’s working culture, rather than a constitutional change. If Members were minded to adopt a Committee system, the Constitution would need to be rewritten.

There was agreement that the WG needed to focus on when, where and how scrutiny was happening at the Council, and then to identify where it could be improved.

The meeting ended at 9.15pm.

To consider the indicative timetable and discuss potential visits and evidence gathering.