Issue - meetings

To consider whether there is a need to amend Rule 2.4, relating to the time permitted for questions to the executive and committee chairs at Full Council.

The Chair summarised the recommendations detailed in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report which was to consider whether there was a need to amend Rule 2.4 (Section 2, Part 4 – Rule 2.4) relating to the time permitted for questions to the executive and committee chairs and to look at two possible options for taking this forward either through a recommendation to extend permitted time for questions to 30 minutes or by establishing a Task and Finish Group to review the time permitted.

The Democratic Services Manager said that there were currently ten Cabinet Members and this was one of the reasons for possibly extending time limits for questions.

Members debated:

·         the merits of extending the time permitted for questions

·         the possibility of extending the time on a trial basis

·         the need to be more efficient

·         the possibility of questions being provided in writing ahead of meetings with supplementary questions being taken at the meetings.

·         The discretion of Chairs to extend the fifteen minute rule

·         Concerns that time was sometimes being taken up with too many questions on the same subject

·         the merits of Task and Finish Groups

·         the possibility of a wider remit to consider such matters as the Constitution and Members being able to speak more than once in a debate

·         the possibility of looking at how other Councils work, with Essex County Council being given as an example.

The Chair considered that the preferred option amongst Members was that Members were minded to amend Rule 2.4 and that a Task and Finish Group should be established.

Councillors Driscoll, Isham, Jones and Khan agreed to sit on the Task and Finish Group and Councillor Barker agreed to act as an adviser.

The Committee agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group in order to carry out a review of Rule 2.4 “time permitted for questions to the executive and committee chairs”. The Task and Finish Group’s recommendations would be brought back to the Committee for endorsement and comment.

The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.