For Council to receive a report outlining the proposal to postpone the Annual Meeting of Council and to agree a number of Governance changes required in the interim.

In light of the Coronavirus global pandemic, the Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform and Corporate Director of Governance and Community Strategy submitted a joint report recommending a series of temporary measures to enable the Council to continue functioning democratically during the crisis.

Members were asked to note the postponement of the Annual Council Meeting and to adopt a revised six-month timetable of Council and Committee meetings that would be held virtually in light of new legislation.

The Council was also asked to consider the temporary suspension of its Scrutiny arrangements and approve the creation of a time limited Trafford Pandemic Scrutiny Committee.

The report also detailed the Memberships of the Executive and Shadow Executive and going forward into the 2020/21 Municipal Year, recommended reconfirmation of the Committees of the Council and their membership and confirmation of member appointments to outside bodies.

The Council was further asked to approve the appointment of the Governance Manager as the Statutory Scrutiny Officer for Trafford Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the Council notes that the Annual Meeting of the Council scheduled for 27 May 2020 has been postponed to a date to be determined.

(2)        That, in the event the Annual meeting is required to be postponed beyond July 2020, the term of office of the incoming Mayor at that time will continue to the Annual Meeting of Council in May 2022.

(3)        That the Standing Committees and their membership, as set out in Appendix ‘A’ to the report, be confirmed, subject to Councillor Rigby replacing Councillor Bunting on Planning and Development Management Committee.

(4)        That the Council’s three scrutiny Committees be suspended until 30 September 2020 and that the establishment of the Trafford Pandemic Scrutiny Committee be approved to carry out the Scrutiny function as outlined in Appendix ‘B’ in the intervening period.

(5)        That the Council notes that the arrangements for the holding of virtual meetings and the operation of the proposed scrutiny arrangements will be subject to review by a cross party Constitution Working Group which will have the ability to make recommendations in relation to the continuation of the operating arrangements after 3 months.

(6)        That the Council meeting scheduled for September 2020 consider a further report from the Monitoring Officer, following consultation with the Constitution Working Group, in relation to the calendar of meetings for the remainder of the Municipal year and the proposed arrangements for all meetings for that period.

(7)        That Council approves a general extension to the six-month Councillor attendance rule of 3 months where any member is unable to attend meetings in the circumstances set out in the report, subject to confirmation by the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Standards Committee in each individual case, in advance of the six-month period expiring.

(8)        That Council approves the appointment of John Addison, Governance Manager, as the Council’s Statutory Scrutiny Officer and that the Council’s Constitution to be amended to reflect the appointment.

(9)        That the timetable of Council and Committee meetings for the first six months of 2020/21 municipal year be approved, as set out in Appendix ‘C’ to the report.

(10)    That the positions of Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs be confirmed, as set out in Appendix ‘A’ and that where appropriate, nominated Opposition Spokespersons, be noted, subject to Councillor Rigby replacing Councillor Bunting as Opposition Spokesperson on Planning and Development Management Committee.

(11)    That the Membership of the Executive, including the Deputy Leader of the Council, as set out in the Appendix ‘D’ to the report and appointed by the Leader of the Council until the next Annual Meeting of the Council, be noted.

(12)    That the members of the Shadow Executive as set out in the Appendix ‘E’ to the report, be noted, subject to Councillor Dr. Barclay replacing Councillor Shaw as Shadow Executive Member for Communities and Partnerships.

(13)    That the appointment and memberships of the three Sub-Committees of Licensing Committee, as set out in Appendix ‘F’ to the report, be approved.

(14)    That the Appointments and Appeals Panel be constituted, the membership for which will be drawn from all members of the Council.

(15)    That the Council’s appointments to the Health and Wellbeing Board, as set out in Appendix ‘G’, be reconfirmed and recommended for endorsement by the Board.

(16)    That representation on those Outside, Independent and Executive Bodies set out in Appendix ‘H’, be confirmed.

(17)    That the Council delegates to the Chief Executive, in accordance with the written request of the relevant Group Leader, the power and authority to change the membership of committees, sub-committees and outside bodies as may be needed from time to time.

(18)    That the Council delegates to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy, the authority to make such amendments to the constitution as are necessary to enable the above recommendations to be brought into effect.

(19)    That the Council approves the following arrangements for dealing with delegated decisions and urgent action:

(a)  Delegated Decisions

That where, under the approved scheme of delegation, decisions may be taken by Officers in consultation with non-Executive Members then in the absence of any specific arrangements having been made, the Officer shall consult the appropriate Chair, Vice-Chair and Opposition Spokesperson.

(b)  Urgent Action

That, in situations which require emergency action the Chief Executive or the appropriate Officer, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee concerned and the Opposition Spokesperson where appropriate (or their respective nominees), be authorised to deal from this date until the next Annual Meeting of the Council, with any matters of urgency or any other matter that cannot conveniently be deferred to the next ordinary meeting of the Committee, subject to later report for information, to the Committee in question.