Issue - meetings

The Director of Law and Governance presented a report on amendments to the Council Constitution.

The amendment requiring the Assembly’s approval related to the primary location of Council meetings.  In view of the new webcasting facilities at the Town Hall, Barking which were due to be fully functionalfrom Autumn 2016 and accessibility issues at the Civic Centre, Dagenham from October 2016 relating to the lease to the University of Coventry, it was proposed that the Town Hall be designated as the primary location for all Council meetings.  Provision would remain for other venues such as the Civic Centre and Barking Learning Centre to be used in certain circumstances where meetings were not webcast or where there were availability issues at the Town Hall.  The Chief Executive would be responsible for agreeing those arrangements.  The full revised wording was set out within Appendix 1 of the report.

The Assembly noted a schedule detailing the full list of updates, which had been implemented by the Monitoring Officer in accordance with the Constitution review / revision arrangements, was set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

Clarification was sought regarding the start time of the Corporate Parenting Group and the location of Personnel Board.  The Director of Law and Governance confirmed requests would be considered in relation to the time and location of individual meetings, dependent on circumstances.

The Assembly resolved to:

(i)  Approve the amendment to paragraph 2.2 of the Council’s Meeting Rules (Chapter 3, Part 2 of the Constitution) regarding the designation of the Town Hall, Barking as the primary location of Council meetings; and

(ii)  Note the schedule of amendments to the Constitution as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.