Decision details
Formal Meetings of the Authority’s Committees
Decision Maker: Chief Executive Officer
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
The Chief Executive Officer considered the
report presented to the informal meeting of the County Council
Members held on 17 November 2021 regarding how the formal meetings
of the authority’s committees could be held from 17 November
2021 onwards, and having taken into account the comments made by
Members at the informal meeting and all relevant information,
resolved, under his emergency delegated powers, to approve
that:
1) The remote access, live broadcast informal meetings of the
Council’s committees continue with any formal decisions
required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his
emergency decision making powers and after consultation with
Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account
any views of the relevant Committee Members.
2) The meetings of the Executive revert to in person meetings, if
it is determined to be safe and practical to do so.
3) The continued use of remote access, live broadcast informal
meetings is reviewed periodically, taking into account the level of
Covid-19 infections and hospitalisation, with a further report
being considered at the Council meeting on 16 February 2022.
4) That the meeting of the County Council on 16 February 2022 is
held as an in person meeting, if it is determined to be safe and
practical to do so.
5) That the power be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer in
consultation with the Leader to determine which committee meetings
should be held virtually and which could be held physically,
subject to consultation with the relevant committee chair.
By whom: Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his
emergency delegated powers and after consultation with the County
Council Members at the informal meeting on 17 November 2021
Reasons for the decision:
Under his delegated decision making powers in
the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s
Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of
emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the
Council, the Executive or a committee.
Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police
and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and
Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations
2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for
committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved
at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light
of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote
live-broadcast committee meetings should continue (as informal
meetings of the Committee Members), with any formal decisions
required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his
emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other
Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account
any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach has been
periodically reviewed since that time and will be further reviewed
by full Council at its February 2022 meeting.
The Chief Executive Officer considered the report presented on how
the formal meetings of the authority’s committees could be
held from 17 November 2021 onwards, and having taken into account
the comments made by Members of the informal meeting of the County
Council held on 17 November 2021, and all relevant information,
resolved, under his emergency delegated powers, to approve the
proposals.
Alternative options considered:
The alternative options considered are
detailed in the report to County Council on 17 November
2021
Publication date: 19/11/2021
Date of decision: 17/11/2021