Members considered a report outlining two amendments to the Council’s Constitution: one relating to the number of meetings of the Select Committees and one relating to the delegated powers of the Community and Planning Director.

Part 1, paragraph 2.4 of the Council’s constitution requires that except for changes required by statute, changes to the Constitution will only be approved by the full Council after consideration of the proposal by the Modern Local Government Group. The amendments to the Constitution outlined in Appendix A to the report would bring the number of meetings referred to in the Constitution in line with the new working practice of the Leader of the Council electing Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Select Committees at the Annual Council meeting.

The amendment outlined in Appendix B to the report related to specific circumstances where planning permission had been refused under delegated powers, an appeal lodged and new information being received that led Officers to conclude that refusal of permission could not be substantiated at appeal. Under these circumstances the matter would be referred back to Members to enable the original delegated refusal to be reviewed.

Councillor Fleming proposed and Cllr. Mrs Bracken seconded that the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report at pages 121 to 127 of the agenda be agreed.

Resolved: That the amendments to the Constitution outlined in the report be adopted.