Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding a number of constitutional matters.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive regarding a number of Constitutional matters.

In presenting the report, the Leader outlined these matters, namely:

1)     a change in responsibility for Executive Functions (taking effect on 1 January 2023);

2)     consequential upon the changes in 1) above, a corresponding revision to Scrutiny functions, also taking effect on 1 January 2023;

3)     a revision to the Terms of Reference for the Pension Fund Panel and Board and its sub-committees regarding deputations; and

4)     the introduction of digital voting in certain circumstances, as detailed in the report.

The Leader clarified that the former Policy and Resources Select Committee will become the Hampshire 2050, Corporate Services and Resources Select Committee; the former Transport and Environment Select Committee will become Universal Services – Transport and Environment Select Committee, the former Countryside, Culture and Communities Select Committee will become Universal Services – Countryside and Regulatory Services.

In regard to 2) above, the Leader confirmed that membership of the above Select Committees would remain the same for now, however to enable all Political Group Leaders to make any changes from the date of this meeting and before 1 January 2023, the Leader proposed an additional recommendation as follows:

“f)    That the County Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant Political Group Leader, to make any changes to membership of the Select Committees as referred to at Appendix 2, between the date of this Council Meeting and 1 January 2023.”

A correction to paragraph 3.3, line 4 of the report was noted and should read as follows:

“Hampshire Pension Fund members who are not local government electors ……”

RESOLVED:

That the County Council:

a)     Notes the revised Executive portfolios as referred to in this report and attached at Appendix 1, to be effective from 1 January 2023.

b)     Agrees the revised Select Committee responsibilities as referred to in this report and attached at Appendix 2, to be effective from 1 January 2023.

c)     Approves the changes to the County Council’s Standing Orders and to the Terms of Reference of the Pension Fund Panel and Board, set out at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively of the Cabinet report attached at Appendix 3. 

d)     Agrees that Standing Order 22 be amended to include provision for digital voting.

e)     Authorises the Monitoring Officer to make necessary updates to the County Council’s Constitution to give effect to the recommendations at a), b), c) and d) of this report.

f)      Delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant Political Group Leader, to make any changes to membership of the Select Committees as referred to at Appendix 2, between the date of this Council Meeting and 1 January 2023.