Motion submitted by Councillor Dawson
To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Dawson:
Motion in relation to Overview and Scrutiny – Call In Procedure
This Council:
· recognises that to maintain any semblance of being genuinely democratic, the operation of 'Cabinet government' within Local Authorities requires genuine open and engaging scrutiny and review processes including call-in procedures.
· notes that the extent and frequency utilisation of the process of call-in within Sefton MBC has, to date, been moderate and considered
· commits itself to engaging positively with those members of the Council who make call-in requests to ensure that the spirit of the legislation which created scrutiny processes is adhered to and that the best and most widely-supported decisions can be arrived at
· recognises that the best decisions are often made where those Councillors and community organisations which have a particular knowledge and concern about the specific issues concerned are permitted to be involved in pre-scrutiny of key decisions before they are made
· recommends to the Sefton MBC Cabinet that the Cabinet should instruct the Officers of the Council involved in preparing decisions for Cabinet Members to always consider which organisations and councillors might be usefully involved in commenting upon draft decisions before they are made, through either formal or informal pre-scrutiny processes
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor Bennett:
This Council
(1) recognises that to maintain any semblance of being genuinely democratic, the operation of 'Cabinet government' within Local Authorities requires genuine open and engaging scrutiny and review processes including call-in procedures.
(2) notes that the extent and frequency utilisation of the process of call-in within Sefton MBC has, to date, been moderate and considered
(3) commits itself to engaging positively with those members of the Council who make call-in requests to ensure that the spirit of the legislation which created scrutiny processes is adhered to and that the best and most widely-supported decisions can be arrived at
(4) recognises that the best decisions are often made where those Councillors and community organisations which have a particular knowledge and concern about the specific issues concerned are permitted to be involved in pre-scrutiny of key decisions before they are made
(5) recommends to the Sefton MBC Cabinet that the Cabinet should instruct the Officers of the Council involved in preparing decisions for Cabinet Members to always consider which organisations and councillors might be usefully involved in commenting upon draft decisions before they are made, through either formal or informal pre-scrutiny processes
An amendment was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Lappin that the Motion be amended as follows:
(1) replacing the words, in paragraph (3) above “commits itself to engaging” with the words “continues to engage”
(2) Paragraph (4), above, after the words “recognises that the best” add the word “key”, after the words “are often made where” add the words “members of the public”, third line delete the words “the” and “concerned” and after the words “specific issues” add the following words “continue to be engaged via the Council’s consultation processes” and delete the following words “are permitted to be involved in pre-scrutiny of key decisions before they are made”
(3) Paragraph (5) above, first line replace the words “recommends to the Sefton MBC Cabinet” with the word “recognises”, replace the word “Cabinet” with the words “Council’s Public Consultation and Engagement Panel”, second and third lines delete the words “instruct the Officers of the Council involved in preparing decisions for Cabinet Members to”, fourth line after the word “Councillors” add the following words “alongside members of the public, fifth line after the word “draft” add the word “key”, sixth line after the word “decisions” add the word “via the aforementioned Council consultation processes” and delete the following words “before they are made, through either formal or informal pre-scrutiny processes”.
Following debate and on a show of hands the Deputy Chair declared that the amendment was carried by 31 votes to 19 and on being put on the Substantive Motion it was carried by 37 votes to 4 with 3 abstentions and it was
RESOLVED:
That this Council:
(1) Recognises that to maintain any semblance of being genuinely democratic, the operation of 'Cabinet government' within Local Authorities requires genuine open and engaging scrutiny and review processes including call-in procedures. ... view the full minutes text for item 53