Agenda and minutes

Resolved:

          That Cllr John Reynolds be elected Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Cllrs Andrew Johnson (Chair), Roger Lawrence, Stephen Simkins, Paul Sweet and Wendy Thompson.

No declarations of interests were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

          That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

[To consider changes to the arrangements for considering petitions received by the Council from the public]

The Group considered proposals to for the future consideration of petitions received by the Council from members of the public, to be effective from the beginning of the new municipal year.

The Group Manager, Corporate Administration explained the rationale for the proposals which had resulted from a review instigated at the request of the Chair of the Petitions Committee.

Resolved:

1.     That the proposed arrangements for considering petitions from the public from 19 May 2016 be approved, specifically:

a.       Petitions with fewer than 50 signatures to be considered and responded to by employees, with a summary reported to Scrutiny Board and the relevant Cabinet Member(s).

b.       Petitions with 50 – 2,499 signatures to be considered by the relevant scrutiny panel with recommendations made for action by employees or review by the Executive as appropriate.

c.       Petitions with 2,500+ signatures to be considered by the Council as per the existing arrangements.

2.     That the arrangements for considering petitions be reviewed in twelve months’ time.

3.     That the development of a protocol for the consideration of petitions by scrutiny panels, to ensure consistency in the way they are reviewed and responded to be supported.