Agenda and minutes

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

It was noted that there were no substitute members for this meeting.

To agree the notes of the meeting of the Working Group held on 11 July 2024.

The Working Group enquired if formal dates had been set for the Members planning training yet and when a timetable would be released.

G Woodhall informed the Working Group that the first training session is being held on 11 December and that the Planning Department are working hard on getting a training plan out to members as soon as possible.

ACTION:

Councillor Lion to liaise with Technical Services Portfolio Holder (Councillor Keska) to acquire a timeframe on the member training plans and dates for committees.

RESOLVED:

That the notes of the working Group held on 11 July 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

To note the terms of reference and review progress with the achievement of the current work programme for the Working Group.

(a)           Terms of Reference

The Working Group noted the Terms of Reference.

(b)           Work Programme

The Working Group noted the Work Programme and there were no further comments.

(Monitoring Officer) To note that the following revisions or amendments have been made to the Constitution since the previous meeting of the Working Group:

The Working Group noted all the recent revisions and amendments made to the constitution on 25 September which had been agreed by council or approved by the Monitoring Officer as minor amendments.

ACTION:

Ensure that the occurrences where DDMC or old-style Planning Committees are mentioned in the Constitution are updated or removed.

(Monitoring Officer) To consider the attached report on progress to date with the review the Constitution.

The Monitoring Officer discussed her report with the Working Group which outlined the proposed changes to the Constitution as part of the Constitution review. There were three proposed changes which were ready to seek authority to go to Full Council for approval. The areas of the Constitution that were updated were as follows, the EFDC management chart, the scheme of delegation, and the Local Government Association Councillor code of conduct.

Councillor Pond raised a query on the Scheme of Delegation around householder planning applications and how the Parish/Town councils can get the application to a planning committee should they object to it under the new planning system.

G Woodhall (Democratic & Electoral Services Team Manager) informed Councillor Pond that householder applications have been changed from class A to B which means that applications can be processed by officers even if the Town/Parish objects. The Working Group noted that the Planning department are preparing a presentation that will be given at the Local Council Liaison Committee, so the Town/Parish Councils know their rights.

The Working Group went through the pages of the revised constitution one at a time and highlighted minor amendments to the Monitoring Officer to fix before it goes to full Council for final approval. The Working Group all agreed that the proposed changes can go forward to Full Council for final approval.

The Monitoring Officer explained that she would be leaving the organisation in December and the Working Group wished their thanks and best wishes to be put on record.

To note that the next meeting of the Working Group will be held on 13 March 2025 at 19.00.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Working Group would be held on 13 March 2025 at 19:00.