Issue - decisions
Recommendations from the Constitution Working Group
14/04/2023 - Recommendations from the Constitution Working Group
Councillor Ted Fenton, Chair of the Council’s Constitution Working Group (CWG), introduced the report, which considered proposals from the Council’s CWG for amendments to the West Oxfordshire District Council Constitution. The report sought to ask Council to adopt a new protocols on the Pre-Election Period, Local Petition Scheme, Officer Decision Making Protocol, Social Media Policy and Executive Procedure Rules.
Councillor Fenton sought approval from the Chair, for the provision of two separate votes on the recommendations contained in the report, which would see recommendations 1, 3, 4 and 5 be taken together, with recommendation 2 being voted on separately.
A separate vote on recommendation 2, would arise as a result of the CWG being unable to come to a view, either individually or collectively, on the subject of accessibility of e-petitions, as detailed in the main reports pack on page 58.
In debate, Councillor Fenton paid tribute to the Council’s Interim Monitoring Officer, Susan Sale, for all her hard work in support of the CWG, and for bearing with members when technology stalled and providing sound advice when it was required. Personal experiences of submissions of an e-petitions to West Oxfordshire District Council regarding sewage were also highlighted, and that signatories were not limited to those with postcodes in the district, but also included people from Cotswold district and beyond, and that managing e-petitions would impact the burden on officers to facilitate these. Concerns were also raised as to subject matter of e-petitions, and that petitions only represent one ideology rather than both viewpoints on a desired outcome.
It was also envisaged that e-petitions help residents of the district engage more with democratically elected representatives, which is what the Executive were seeking to achieve, and that a greater emphasis on e-petitions would be of benefit to the Council.
Councillor Ted Fenton proposed that Council approve recommendations 1, 3, 4 and 5, made to it by the Constitution Working Group. This was seconded by Councillor Michele Mead, was put to a vote, and agreed unanimously by Council.
Councillor Andy Graham further proposed that Council approve recommendation 2, made to it by the Constitution Working Group. This was also seconded by Councillor Michele Mead, was put to a vote, and agreed unanimously by Council.
Council Resolved to:
1. Approve the Protocol on the Pre-Election Period, at Annex A to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23rd March 2023;
2. Approve the Local Petition Scheme, at Annex B to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23rd March 2023;
3. Approve the Officer Decision Making Protocol, at Annex C to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23rd March 2023;
4. Approve the Social Media Policy, at Annex D to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23rd March 2023;
5. Approve the Executive Procedure Rules, at Annex E to this report, and formally adopt it as part of the Council’s Constitution from 23rd March 2023.