Issue - meetings

The Council is recommended to make the resolutions set out in the report at agenda item 8.

The Committee is recommended to make the resolutions set out in the report at agenda item 6.

The Senior Governance Officer introduced the report and summarized that a Joint Officer Scheme of Delegation and Proper Officer Scheme, materially the same for both Councils, whilst being owned by each Council in respect of their services, would help to promote more efficient joint working and would support the transformation programme by aligning officer decision making across both Councils. The revised scheme would improve governance for each Council and would ensure that there would be greater transparency of decision making.

Councillor Macleod moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Robini and at the invitation of the Chair, Members considered the proposal.  Councillor Long sought clarification of the wording in 1.4.4 ‘The exercise of a delegated power shall not amount to a new policy or extension or amendment to an existing policy unless the officer has specific delegated authority to do so’. The Senior Governance Officer responded that the clause was meant to ensure that only Members would be able to decide upon new policies.

Councillor Robini referenced ward councillor consultations set out on page 54 of the agenda pack and stated that ward councillors would need training on their responsibilities. The Senior Governance Officer explained that once the scheme was approved by Council, training would be arranged for Officers and Members. 

There being no further discussion, the Chair called upon Members to vote on the recommendations whereupon it was

RESOLVED unanimously:

1.    That the revised Joint Officer Scheme of Delegation and Proper Officer Scheme, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, be RECOMMENDED to Council for adoption as part of the Council’s Constitution in so far as the delegations relate to Waverley Borough Council.

2.    That the Monitoring Officer be authorised, in consultation with the chair of the Standards and General Purposes Committee, to make such further amendments to the Joint Officer Scheme of Delegation and Proper Officer Scheme as may be necessary to correct errors or for clarification purposes, prior to consideration of these matters by full Council.