Agenda item

Consider Motion by Councillor Ballantyne, seconded by Councillor Aitchison.  (Copy attached.)

4.1     Councillor Ballantyne, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved an amended version of the Motion circulated with the agenda, a copy of which was tabled at the meeting in the following terms:-

“That Scottish Borders Council approves the following:

(a)     Changes to Senior Councillor Roles (in compliance with the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007) and appointments:

(b)   that the Council continues to adopt an Executive/Scrutiny model of decision making, and that Area Forums are replaced by newly focused Locality Committees with greater powers to make relevant local decisions;

(c)   that the following amendments are made to the Scheme of Administration:

(i)      the existing constitution of the Executive Committee is changed to reflect the Executive Member roles1 to 9 above along with the Council Leader (noting that Opposition Councillors will no longer be Members of the Executive);

(ii)     the Scrutiny Committee is removed and a revised Scrutiny function is added to the functions of the Audit & Risk Committee, with an ad-hoc Scrutiny Sub-Committee appointed as required by the Audit & Risk Committee for particular reviews.

(d)     that the Clerk to the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, brings forward an Interim Scheme of Administration for consideration by Council on 25 May 2017, reflecting proposals a) to c) above, on the understanding that a final Scheme of Administration will be considered by Council no later than 30 September 2017.”

4.2     Councillor Ballantyne spoke in support of her Motion.  Councillor Bell, seconded by Councillor Anderson, proposed an amendment to the Motion as follows:-

          “(a)    at paragraph (c) (i) above put a full stop after “….Council Leader”, then delete all of the text in brackets; and

           (b)    at paragraph (c)(ii) above delete all after “….Audit & Risk Committee,” and replace with “to become a combined Audit & Scrutiny Committee.”

4.3     Following a discussion on the various proposals it was unanimously agreed that amendment 4. 2(b) above be accepted.  A vote by show of hands was then taken as follows:-

          Motion as amended       -           19 Votes

          Amendment 4.2(a)        -           10 Votes

          The Motion as amended was accordingly carried.

          DECISION

          DECIDED:

(a)     Changes to Senior Councillor Roles (in compliance with the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007) and appointments:

(b)  that the Council continue to adopt an Executive/Scrutiny model of decision making, and that Area Forums were replaced by newly focused Locality Committees with greater powers to make relevant local decisions;

(c)   that the following amendments be made to the Scheme of Administration:

(i)      the existing constitution of the Executive Committee be changed to reflect the Executive Member roles1 to 9 above along with the Council Leader (noting that Opposition Councillors would no longer be Members of the Executive); and

(ii)     the Scrutiny Committee be removed and a revised Scrutiny function was added to the functions of the Audit & Risk Committee to become a combined Audit & Scrutiny Committee; and

(d)     that the Clerk to the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, bring forward an Interim Scheme of Administration for consideration by Council on 25 May 2017, reflecting proposals (a) to (c) above, on the understanding that a final Scheme of Administration would be considered by Council no later than 30 September 2017.