Agenda item

Council meeting on 26January 2021 resolved that Democratic Services Committee

reviewed both the impacts of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, and

any proposed changes to the Standing Orders together in line with the work plan of the

said committee within their normal reporting to full Council. 

Councillor P Hourahine considered it was a two-part report, ie that the Motion and Local Government (LG) Act Wales 2021, were entirely separate things.

The Chair asked was the Committee content with the Question Time period and linking it with the LG Act framework or should it be changed at local level.

Councillor M Evans, considered it should be changed at local level to allow back benchers to ask questions as well as including public participation as this was encouraging democracy, therefore it was ideal to make a recommendation at this meeting.

Councillor Whitcutt advised that there was a need to look at the resolution, which advised that Committee reviewed the intention of the resolution, therefore they should be reviewed together in the same piece of work and at the same time.

Councillor T Watkins agreed with Councillor Whitcutt that the Committee look at both the LG Act 2021 and Questions to Leader.

The Head of Law and Regulation advised that the New Act would come into force in stages and would receive guidance on various aspects as it was indicated.  There was a need to review the standing orders generally because of the changes coming.   As a result of legislation, the Committee could meet more frequently to discuss these changes in legislation, therefore it was confirmed that this needed to be looked as a round.

Councillor C Evans thought that it was a great opportunity to reform and that it would not take long and have a positive impact.  It therefore needed to be integrated properly in the Standing Orders in a matter of months.

Councillor Hughes considered it was more than just a singular issue and that the Committee needed to know how it worked in the bigger picture and looked at properly in depth and with the changes that were happening anyway.  This could also enhance democracy in Newport. 

Councillor Hourahine reflected on the present Questions process and advised that there were ample opportunities for councillors to use the open questions forum.  Guiding principles to chairing meetings was to be more succinct.  Extending questions therefore did nothing to enhance the meeting. 

On a separate note, regarding the New Act and remote attendance, Councillor Hourahine could see how it would work in rural areas but geographically, it was not appropriate for Newport and considered that remote meetings were de-humanising to councils.

The Chair agreed with the last comments regarding the virtual meetings, especially in the current climate.

Councillor M Evans referred to the extension of 15 minutes to Questions to the Leader and considered that it would be ideal to make a recommendation to change this at today’s meeting.  Councillor M Evans was however disappointed that this issue would be put back until Christmas and would rather make the change immediately.

Councillor Clarke referred to the guidelines and that when they all came out, it would be better that they be addressed collectively.

Councillor Whitcutt mentioned that the council resolution clearly spelled out what was put before the Committee.  The question was what the council had decided and had to consider in that context, therefore Councillor Whitcutt moved that The Committee accepted the instructions from council and consider all these matters as part of the same exercise.  Councillor T Watkins seconded this.

Councillor M Evans asked what the timescales would be in relation to the New Act. The Head of Law and Regulation advised that the council would wait on public consultation and engagement, however, background research could be carried out on how many councils held public meetings. No decision however on public engagement could be made until public petitions were also looked at as well, which was an informal arrangement with the council.  E-Petitions were used in other councils, with a set number of signatories, this could then be debated at council. It was therefore reiterated to wait to see the new legislation.  The guidance would be statutory and timescale on how to implement this.

Recommended:

The Committee considered the referral from Council and to determine the scope for this review and how it should be undertaken.  The Committee therefore considered not to review the operation of Standing Order 4.2(b) now but await further guidance on the other requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act before undertaking a more comprehensive review of existing Standing Orders.