Agenda item

(a)               Adoption of a Petition Scheme

(b)               Proposed changes to Financial Regulations

(c)               Proposed changes to the Property Management Protocol

(d)               Proposed changes to the Terms of Reference of the Governance and Audit Committee

(1)       The Chairman stated that he would take item 10 (a) Adoption of a Petition Scheme separately, as he was aware of a requested amendment to the recommendations.

(2)       Mr A King moved, Mr A Bowles seconded the recommendations on page 171 and 172 of the Blue Book.

(3)       Mr Vye moved, Mr Prater seconded the following amendment:

Add the following words to the end of recommendation (c) on page172:

“except that where a petition calls for a full County Council debate on a matter, at least 6,000 signatures shall be required for a County-wide matter and at least 500 signatures where the County Council matter relates to a specific District Council area, and at least 500 signatures per District Council area where the matter relates to more than one District Council area; and that where a petition is for an officer to give evidence at an Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at least 3,000 signatures shall be required for a County-wide matter, and at least 500 signatures (or multiples) for a County Council matter relating to a District Council area(s).”

(4)       The Chairman put the Amendment to the vote, where the voting was as follows:

FOR - 6

Mr I S Chittenden, Mrs T Dean, Mr S J G Koowaree, Mr T Prater, Mr M B Robertson, Mr M J Vye

ABSTAIN - 2

Mr A D Crowther, Mr R A Pascoe

AGAINST - 56

Mrs A D Allen, Mr R W Bayford, Mr A H T Bowles, Mr D L Brazier, Mr R B Burgess, Mr C J Capon, Miss S J Carey, Mr P B Carter, Mr N J D Chard, Mr L Christie, Mrs P T Cole, Mr N J Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B R Cope, Mr H J Craske, Mr J M Cubitt, Mrs V J Dagger, Mr M C Dance, Mr T Gates, Mr G K Gibbens, Mr R W Gough, Mr M J Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr P M Hill, Mr D A Hirst, Mrs S V Hohler, Mr G A Horne, Mr E E C Hotson, Mr M J Jarvis, Mr A J King, Mr J D Kirby, Mr J A Kite, Mrs J P Law, Mr R J Lees, Mr J F London, Mr R L H Long, Mr K G Lynes, Mr S Manion, Mr R F Manning, Mr R A Marsh, Mr M J Northey, Mr J M Ozog, Mr R J Parry, Mr L B Ridings, Mrs J A Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J D Simmonds, Mr C P Smith, Mr M V Snelling, Mrs P A V Stockell, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr C T Wells, Mr M J Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A T Willicombe

Lost

(5)       Mr A King stated that he would wish the County Council to review the scheme after three months of operation and that a report would be submitted to the December County Council meeting for this purpose.

Resolved: that the County Council approve:

(a)    the adoption of the Petition Scheme attached as Appendix 1 to this report and that it be incorporated within the Constitution;

(b)    the coming into force of the Petition Scheme, including the provision for submitting e-petitions, on 1 September 2010;

(c)     consequential amendments to the Constitution resulting from the introduction of the Petition Scheme, as set out in Appendix 3, with effect from 1 September 2010.

(d)       the submission of a report on the operation of the petition scheme to the meeting of the County Council on 9 December 2010.

(6)       The Chairman then asked the County Council to determine the following reports en bloc:

Item 10 (b)      Proposed Changes to Financial Regulations

Item 10 (c)      Proposed Changes to the Property Management Protocol

Item 10 (d)      Proposed Changes to the Terms of Reference of the Governance and Audit Committee

Resolved: that:

(a)       the updated Financial Regulations be approved as an amendment to the Constitution, together with any consequential amendments required to reflect the revised Terms of Reference of the Governance and Audit Committee

(b)       the revisions to the Property Management Protocol be approved; and

(c)        the revised Terms of Reference for the Governance and Audit Committee be approved as set out at Appendix 1, together with consequential changes to the Constitution