(i)       that the current Policy Development Groups (Joint Operations Team and Joint Commissioning Team) be replaced by a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) and a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) with membership and terms of reference as set out below:

Membership:

The Mayor and Executive Leads.

Terms of Reference:

1.       to begin early discussions on developing policy in key areas (notably, but not exclusively to those areas that are covered by the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework, or are considered Key Decisions) and to review forthcoming issues in the Forward Plan;

2.       to review and offer opinions/guidance on the policy/development options put forward by officers to assist in the development of Equality Impact Assessments and other formal papers prior to the decision making process;

3.       to consider the most appropriate form of wider consultation and review the outcomes of consultation;

4.       to receive and make recommendations to the Mayor on Overview and Scrutiny reports; and

5.       to receive reports and make recommendations to the Mayor on Executive decisions to enable the Mayor to make decisions at Policy Development Decision Groups.

(ii)      that the two groups in (i) above meet in public on a monthly basis and operate in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders – Executive, Committees, Access to Information and Budget and Policy Framework; and

(iii)      that the Monitoring Officer be requested to make any subsequent changes to the Constitution required as a result of implementing these two groups.

To implement revised arrangements for executive decision-making and reduce the number of reports being presented to the Council meetings.

To continue to take Executive Mayoral decisions to Council meetings.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 17 August 2016 unless the call-on procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

A review has been conducted to determine how the Mayor could incorporate Executive decision-making whilst maintaining the existing policy development structure. 

It is proposed to replace the existing Joint Operations Team and Joint Commissioning Team Policy Development Groups with a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) and a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) with terms of reference as set out above.

The proposal provides for the Mayor and his Executive to proactively brief wider Members and the public on issues, engage them on matters of Policy Development and ensure transparency of decision making.  It also provides an opportunity to reflect and develop matters before they are finally presented to the Council for approval in the case of Policy Framework documents.

None