Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be approved, including the Member workshop on Climate Change in February;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises;

(c)       That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions; and

(d)       That the suggestion for a sixth ‘test of significance’ question in section 1.02 of the report be referred to the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee.

The Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme and an update on actions arising from previous meetings.  On Environmental Enforcement, she advised that the policy would be forwarded to Town and Community Councils once it had been approved by Cabinet and that the Budget Statement was due to be circulated.

The Committee supported the suggestion for Climate Change to be the subject of an all-Member workshop in February 2020.  The Chairman asked that any questions be submitted to him in advance.

Councillor Peers questioned whether the five ‘test of significance’ questions used to identify future agenda items applied to all committees and were embodied in the Constitution.  He suggested that a sixth question be included on whether the issue was of public or Member concern.  The Facilitator’s suggestion that this be referred to the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee was supported.

The recommendations, which were amended to reflect the debate, were moved by Councillor Peers and seconded by Councillor Hardcastle.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be approved, including the Member workshop on Climate Change in February;

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises;

(c)       That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions; and

(d)       That the suggestion for a sixth ‘test of significance’ question in section 1.02 of the report be referred to the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee.