Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Chief Officer - Governance which met the Council’s instruction to report on the operation of the Scheme of Governance on an annual basis and made recommendations for improvement.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)           approve Appendix C, the Introduction to the Scheme of Governance, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(b)           approve Appendix D, Committee Terms of Reference, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(c)           approve Appendix E, Powers Delegated to Officers with effect from 1 April 2022, and delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Governance to make any further changes to Appendix 1 of that document necessary to reflect the Powers Delegated to Officers;

(d)           approve Appendix F, Standing Orders for Council, Committee and Sub Committee Meetings, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(e)           approve Appendix G, Financial Regulations, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(f)             approve Appendix H, Procurement Regulations, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(g)           approve Appendix I, Member - Officer Relations Protocol, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(h)           approve Appendix J, the Local Code of Corporate Governance, with effect from 1 April 2022;

(i)             note the draft minute of the Governance Reference Group of 20 January 2022, and that an updated committee report template would be implemented with effect from 1 April 2022; and

(j)             note the update with regard to the review of outside bodies and that no further changes were required at this stage.

Councillor Houghton moved, seconded by Councillor Malik:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report, subject to the following:

Appendix D - Powers Delegated to Officers:-

·         To not accept the amendments to Chief Officer - Governance power 21 in relation to emergencies; and

·         To not accept the proposed new power 12 for the Chief Officer - City Growth with regard to event capacities and pandemic related legislation.

Appendix F - Standing Orders:-

·         In relation to Standing Order 34.1 to delete the words “unless thereafter the Convener determines otherwise”; and

·         In relation to Standing Order 12.2, to delete the word “must” and replace it with “should”.

Councillor Alex Nicoll moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Greig:-

That the Council defer consideration of the report to the Council meeting scheduled for 29 June 2022 to allow the new Council to consider the matter, and agree that the existing Scheme of Governance remain in place meantime.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (23)  -  Lord Provost; Depute Provost; and Councillors Allan, Bell, Boulton, Cross, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Duncan, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Imrie, John, Laing, Lumsden MSP, Macdonald, MacKenzie, Malik, Mason, Reynolds, Sellar and Wheeler.

For the amendment  (22)  -  Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Cameron, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Delaney, Jackie Dunbar MSP, Greig, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Alex Nicoll, Audrey Nicoll MSP, Noble, Radley, Townson and Yuill.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.