Council Meeting Rules (Alternative Format)

This content is intended as a precis of elements of the Constitution relating to the make up of the Council, Committees, etc. It also lists (i) the standard items of business, (ii) the order of those items of business, and (ii) the Motions that can be moved without notice, at a meeting. In some places the Constitution will refer to this content to identify which item of business/Motion/etc a particular meeting can consider/deal with. If there is any conflict between the wording of the Constitution and the contents of this content, the Constitution will prevail.

Council

Types of Council meeting

• Annual meeting
• Budget meeting
• Ordinary meeting
• Extraordinary meeting

Annual meeting

• Standard Items of Business at Meeting (order cannot be varied)
  • Elect a Member to preside if Chairman/Vice-Chairman of Body not present
  • Receive apologies for inability to attend the meeting
  • Chairman's remarks
  • Elect Chairman of Body
    • The Chairman of Council and Leader of Council continue as Councillors (and thus in post) until the agenda items for election of Chairman and Leader at the first Annual Meeting of Council after all council elections.
  • Elect Vice-Chairman of Body
  • Approve Minutes of previous meeting(s)
  • Receive Declarations of Interest
  • Elect Leader of Council (four-yearly at First Annual Meeting after elections unless vacancy)
    • The Chairman of Council and Leader of Council continue as Councillors (and thus in post) until the agenda items for election of Chairman and Leader at the first Annual Meeting of Council after all council elections.
  • Receive Leader's notification of number and membership of Executive
  • Receive announcements from Chairman/Leader/Executive/Head of Paid Service
     
• Standard Items of Business (where relevant) at Meeting (order can be varied by Chairman or on Motion)
  • Decide on Committees, size, terms of reference, allocation of seats, etc
  • Appoint Councillors to Committees
  • Appoint Councillors to Outside Bodies (if not delegated, eg to Leader)
  • Agree any amendments to Constitution
  • Consider business/any other business specified in the Agenda
     
• Procedural Motions that may be moved without notice

Budget meeting

• Standard Items of Business at Meeting (order cannot be varied)
  • Elect a Member to preside if Chairman/Vice-Chairman of Body not present
  • Receive apologies for inability to attend the meeting
  • Chairman's remarks
  • Approve Minutes of previous meeting(s)
  • Receive Declarations of Interest
  • Receive announcements from Chairman/Leader/Executive/Head of Paid Service
     
• Standard Items of Business (where relevant) at Meeting (order can be varied by Chairman or on Motion)
  • Consider Reports and Proposals from Executive/Scrutiny Commission/Officers
  • Consider Motions submitted by Members
    • Only Motions relating to Revenue and Expenditure may be considered at the Budget Meeting of Council
  • Consider business/any other business specified in the Agenda
     
• Procedural Motions that may be moved without notice

Ordinary meeting

• Standard Items of Business at Meeting (order cannot be varied)
  • Elect a Member to preside if Chairman/Vice-Chairman of Body not present
  • Receive apologies for inability to attend the meeting
  • Chairman's remarks
  • Approve Minutes of previous meeting(s)
  • Receive Declarations of Interest
  • Receive announcements from Chairman/Leader/Executive/Head of Paid Service
     
• Standard Items of Business (where relevant) at Meeting (order can be varied by Chairman or on Motion)
  • Receive Petitions
  • Respond to public written questions
  • Appoint Councillors to Committees
  • Appoint Councillors to Outside Bodies (if not delegated, eg to Leader)
  • Agree any amendments to Constitution
  • Respond to Petitions previously received
  • Consider Reports and Proposals from Executive/Scrutiny Commission/Officers
  • Receive Reports on joint arrangements/external organisations and receive questions/provide answers on such
  • Consider Motions submitted by Members
  • Respond to Councillors' written questions
  • Consider business/any other business specified in the Agenda
     
• Procedural Motions that may be moved without notice

Extraordinary meeting

• Standard Items of Business at Meeting (order cannot be varied)
  • Elect a Member to preside if Chairman/Vice-Chairman of Body not present
  • Receive apologies for inability to attend the meeting
  • Chairman's remarks
  • Receive Declarations of Interest
     
• Standard Items of Business (where relevant) at Meeting (order can be varied by Chairman or on Motion)
  • Consider business/any other business specified in the Agenda
     
• Procedural Motions that may be moved without notice

Any Council meeting

• Procedural Motions that may be moved without notice at any type of Council meeting
  • Appoint a Chairman for meeting if Chairman/Vice-Chairman absent
  • Accuracy of Minutes
  • Closure or adjournment of the meeting
  • Order of or next business
  • Refer any matter to Council/Executive/Committee/Statutory Officer
  • Establish a Committee and appoint members if such if arises from an Agenda item
  • Establish a Task Group and appoint members if such if arises from an Agenda item
  • Establish a Sub-Committee and appoint members if such if arises from an Agenda item
  • Withdraw a Motion or amendment with leave of the Chairman
  • Amend a Motion as permitted
  • Amend the time limit for speeches (if any)
  • Allow member of the public to speak in accordance with Rules
  • Allow continuation of meeting past 22:00
  • Suspend a Rule of Procedure where permitted
  • Exclude the press and public in accordance with the statutory provisions
  • A Member named for disorderly conduct not to be further heard/leave the meeting
  • A Closure Motion

A Each Councillors' terms of office starts on the fourth day after being elected and finishes (except for the Chairman of Council and Leader of Council - see [B]) on the fourth day after the date of the next all council elections.

B The Chairman of Council and Leader of Council continue as Councillors (and thus in post) until the agenda items for election of Chairman and Leader at the first Annual Meeting of Council after all council elections.