Report and appendices attached.

The Monitoring Officer advised that an end of year summary of work on the Constitution was due to go to Council next week. This was taken to Council each March as part of a three year project on the Constitution. All changes had gone through the Constitution Working Party and Governance Committee. This process was due to continue into the new municipal year. Members felt that the Constitution Working Party should continue as it had proved useful in the cycle of reviewing the Constitution.

The Monitoring Officer summarised some of the principal changes being proposed to the Constitution:

-       The Access to Information Procedure Rules had been divided into two parts.

-       A provision for a staff representative on the Pensions Committee had been introduced.

-       The Contract Procedure Rules had been revised.

-       More straightforward arrangements for Member Code of Conduct complaints has been introduced.

-       Changes to the management structure had been reflected and the Appointments Sub-Committee would now only deal with appointments at a higher level – grade G14 and above.

-       The sign-off of Council policies and strategies had been reallocated to Council/Cabinet/Portfolio Holders/Strategic Directors/Heads of Service as appropriate. A list of Council policies could be brought to a future meeting of Governance Committee.

It was AGREED:

That the revised Constitution be submitted to full Council for approval and adoption.