Agenda Item No: 11
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
CABINET MEETING: 28TH MARCH
2007
REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL WORKING
GROUP
Purpose of Report
1. To update
Members on the position regarding the Wales Audit Office report on
Democratic Renewal and, in the light of various issues raised, to
consider the re-establishment of the Democratic Renewal Working
Group.
Background
2. The Wales Audit
Office (WAO) as part of their Audit and Inspection Plan for
2002/03 completed a review of the Democratic Renewal process within
the Council. This review included a survey of all Scrutiny
Members under the previous Council’s administration. A review
report was received which outlined 15 key recommendations for the
Council to consider.
3. Cabinet on
14th July, 2004, established a cross-party Democratic
Renewal Working Group with the following terms of reference:
·
to consider the recommendations contained in the report of the
Audit Commission in Wales on Democratic Renewal
·
to draw up specific proposals for consideration by Cabinet and
Council in response to the above recommendations.
Relevant Issues and Options
4. The
Democratic Renewal Working Group subsequently met on a number of
occasions with its proceedings / proposals being considered /
endorsed by Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) and
Council. The politically balanced Working Group comprised the
following 10 members who were not appointed in any post holding
capacity:
Councillors Mrs. C.V.L. Clay, J. Clifford,
A.D. Dobbinson, S.C. Egan, C.P. Franks, N.P. Hodges, H.J.W. James,
Mrs. M. Kelly Owen, N. Moore and former Councillor A.J.
Readman.
5.
With regard to the 15 key recommendations of the ACiW report,
significant progress has been made and a number of initiatives
agreed and / or implemented.
6. A follow-up
report was received from the WAO following its review of the
progress made by the Council in response to the original
report. The report concluded “that the Council has made good
progress in implementing the majority of the recommendations of the
previous report and many measures have begun to make a positive
impact.”
7. Cabinet, on
20th September, 2006, resolved that the Corporate
Management Team draw up specific proposals for consideration by
Cabinet and Council, the process to also allow for consideration of
such proposals by the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) and
the Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Group as appropriate.
Since that time, issues such as the possible reformatting of
Council meetings have been discussed at the latter Forum.
8. In the light
of the above, and given certain issues which have recently arisen
with regard to the Constitution, it is recommended that (as
indicated in a recent reply to a question at Council) the
Democratic Renewal Working Group be re-established with the
following terms of reference:
§
To consider the outstanding recommendations contained in the
follow-up report of the Wales Audit Office on Democratic
Renewal;
§
To consider any specific concerns raised by Members regarding the
current wording / interpretation of the Council’s Constitution.
9. Proposals arising out of the
Working Group’s deliberations will be reported to Cabinet /
Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) / Council as
appropriate. As recently discussed at the Scrutiny Committee
(Corporate Resources) any proposals of the Working Group relating
to the Constitution will be reported to that Committee prior to
consideration by Cabinet and by Council.
Resource Implications (Financial and
Employment)
10. There are no specific
implications arising from this report.
Legal Implications (to include Human Rights
Implications)
11. There may be resourcing
and staffing implications as a result of any future changes to the
Democratic Renewal process.
Crime and Disorder Implications
12. None.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to include
Welsh Language Issues)
13. None.
Corporate/Service Objectives (to
include Voluntary Sector and Stakeholder Consultation)
14. One of the Council’s
Community Leadership priorities, as outlined in the Corporate Plan,
is the implementation of the Member Development Strategy. The
effectiveness of the Council’s decision-making process, scrutiny
arrangements, together with the associated roles of Members, is an
integral part of this strategy.
Policy Framework and Budget
15. Whilst the establishment
of the Working Group itself does not require the approval of Full
Council, changes to the composition, membership, terms of reference
of committees, reformatting of Council meetings and business
including rules of debate, and any changes to the Constitution, are
matters for Council to determine.
Consultation (including Ward Member
consultation)
16. The response to the
recommendations outlined in the WAO report is an internal matter
and therefore, no external consultation is necessary.
Relevant Scrutiny Committee
17. Corporate Resources.
RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) T H A
T the Democratic Renewal Working Group be re-established with the
following terms of reference:
·
to consider the outstanding recommendations contained in the
follow-up report of the Wales Audit Office on Democratic
Renewal;
·
to consider any specific concerns raised by Members regarding the
current wording / interpretation of the Council’s Constitution.
(2) T H A
T the membership of the Working Group be determined.
Reasons for recommendations
(1)&(2) To
confirm the position regarding the Council’s response to the WAO
report on Democratic Renewal and to consider any concerns raised by
Members regarding the content / interpretation of the Council’s
Constitution.
Background Papers
ACiW (now WAO) Report re: Democratic
Renewal.
WAO follow-up report re: Democratic Renewal:
July 2006.
Contact Officer: Mr. J. Wyatt
(Tel: 01446 709408).
E-mail: jrwyatt@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
John Maitland Evans
Chief Executive