Issue - meetings
Recommendations from Constitution Working Group
Meeting: 16/07/2025 - Council (Item 28)
28 Recommendations from Constitution Working Group 
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Purpose
To present recommendations from the Constitution Working Group arising from a meeting on 24 June 2025 in relation to:
· Appeals Committee
· Representations to the Planning and Licensing Committee
Recommendation(s)
That Council resolves to:
1. AGREE to the establishment of an Appeals Committee with responsibility for considering appeals by the Council’s statutory officers about disciplinary action taken against them, in accordance with the Local Government Association’s Model Procedure;
2. AGREE that the Appeals Committee will be a politically balanced committee comprising 5 Members, including one Member of Cabinet, who are not members of the Performance and Appointments Committee, with a quorum of 3 Members;
3. APPOINT Members (named in Annex A) to the Appeals Committee based on political proportionality (3 Liberal Democrats, 2 Conservative);
4. AUTHORISE the Director of Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the Constitution Working Group, to include the Appeals Committee within the Constitution;
5. NOTE that further proposals relating to Statutory Officer employment rules will be considered by the Constitution Working Group.
6. AUTHORISE the Director of Governance and Development, in consultation with the Chair of the Constitution Working Group, to include within the Planning Protocol a deadline for representations to the Planning and Licensing Committee of 2.00pm two working days before a meeting.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The purpose of the report was to present recommendations from the Constitution Working Group arising from a meeting on 24 June 2025 in relation to:
· The Appeals Committee
· Representations to the Planning and Licensing Committee
Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council introduced the report, and summarised it’s key points, which addressed two substantive matters: the establishment of an Appeals Committee for statutory officer disciplinary appeals and changes to submission procedures for the Planning and Licensing Committee.
It was moved that the Appeals Committee be established in accordance with the Local Government Association’s model procedure. The Committee would be politically balanced with five members: three from the Liberal Democrats: Councillor Helen Mansilla, Councillor Tristan Wilkinson and Councillor Tony Dale and two from the Conservatives; Councillor David Fowles, Councillor Tony Slater.
Members were also asked to consider the introduction of a submission deadline for the Planning and Licensing Committee, requiring all papers and representations to be submitted no later than 48 hours (2pm two working days) before the meeting. This change was suggested to prevent last-minute submissions, allowing members sufficient time to review information. Councillor Mike Evemy emphasised the importance of providing Committee Members with adequate time to review submissions.
The resolution was formally moved and opened for questions.
There was one question for clarity regarding late responses from statutory consultees, such as Highways and environmental bodies, potentially delaying decisions. Councillor Mike Evemy confirmed that officers would manage communication with consultees to meet deadlines, adding that the Council could determine applications without certain responses if necessary.
There were no further questions for clarity.
Councillor Len Wilkins seconded the recommendations and spoke, noting that all proposals had been carefully considered.
The Chair moved to the debate – there was no request to speak in debate.
Councillor Mike Evemy then summed up and confirmed that the deadline proposed was reasonable and would ensure that members of the Planning Committee would have adequate time for consideration. .
The Chair then moved to the vote on the resolution which was proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor Len Wilkins.
Voting Record:
27 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.
Did not vote: Councillor Tony Dale.