Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

To consider the review of Part B of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee considered the review of Part B and the proposed amendments set out in Appendices 2 and 3 for recommendation to the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2024.

To consider the review of Part C of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee recommended to the Annual Council Meeting that the Council approves the changes to the Somerset Council Constitution Part C Council Procedural Rules as set out in Appendix 2.

To consider the review of Parts D4 and D5 of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee was asked to:

1)     Review and comment on the proposed changes to the following parts of the Council’s Constitution:

               i.         Part D4 – Licensing and Regulatory Committee Terms of Reference

              ii.         Part D5 - Licensing and Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

2)    Support the proposed changes from the Constitution Working Group – Licensing Committees and recommended them for approval by Full Council on 22 May 2024.

To consider the review of Part I2 of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee was asked to:

1)     Review the proposed changes to Part I2 – Officer Scheme of Delegation set out in Appendix 1 and provide any comments or suggested amendments for the Monitoring Officer to make following the meeting in consultation with the Chair of the Committee; and

2)    Recommend the revised Part I2 – Officer Scheme of Delegation to the Council’s Annual General Meeting in May.

To consider the review of Part I7 of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee:-

1)     provided a delegation to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Chair of the Constitution and Governance Committee to make any further suggested changes to the Financial Regulations arising as a result of the debate to form part of their recommendation to Full Council; and

2)    noted the report and agreed to recommend that Annual Council adopt the Financial Regulations set out in Appendix 1 with immediate effect.

To consider the review of Part D8 of the Constitution.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee was asked to:

1)     Review and comment on the proposed changes to the following parts of the Council’s Constitution:

               i.         Part D8 – Planning Committee Terms of Reference with an addition to 8.8f to accommodate deferrals from Parish and Town Councils where possible.

              ii.         Appendix 1 – Code of Good Practice for Planning

2)    Support the proposed changes from the Constitution Working Group – Planning Committees and recommended them for approval by Full Council on 22 May 2024.

To review the Annual Report of the Constitution and Governance Committee.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee were asked to note the report and recommend it to Full Council in May.

To receive a verbal update on the proposed Boundary Review.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee noted the update.

To note the work programme.

Resolved that the Constitution and Governance Committee noted the work programme.