Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Wann.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda and/or declare of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them. No such declarations were made.

Councillor Patel submits a report that update Council on the actions taken since the meeting held on 9 December 2010, to ask Council to consider which of the models of governance, available within the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (the 2007 Act), it wishes to adopt and to consider the actions to be taken to implement the consequent changes to the Council’s Constitution. Cabinet is recommended to consider the report and make comments to Council as it sees fit and request the Director of Corporate Governance to bring forward any necessary proposed amendments to the Constitution .

Councillor Patel submitted a report that updated Council on the actions taken since the meeting held on 9 December 2010, asked Council to adopt the Mayor and Cabinet Executive model of executive governance with effect from the third day after the local government elections in May 2010 and to consider the actions taken to implement the consequent changes to the Council’s Constitution.

Members considered the potential implications for the position of Lord Mayor and received advice from the Monitoring Officer that, although by law, two positions could not have the title of Mayor, every effort would be made to maintain the historic role. Members stated that it was important to continue with the role of Lord Mayor and asked that every avenue be explored to make this possible.

Members considered circumstances under which an elected mayor could be removed, noting that this was only possible in cases of health or illegal activity. Following discussion on potential implications of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill, Members noted that a decision should be based on the 2007 Act alone.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     recommends to Council that it adopts the Mayor and Cabinet Executive model of executive governance with effect from the third day after the local government elections in May 2011; and

2)     Requests the Director of Corporate Governance to bring forward any necessary proposed amendments to the Constitution.

The meeting closed at 9.55am.