Agenda item

To consider and adopt CJC’s standing orders and constitution

1.    To adopt the Initial Standing Orders for the Corporate Joint Committee and accept the proposed direction for the Constitution.

2.    Delegate the power to the Monitoring Officer to make editorial changes to the Standing Orders for their publication and note the need to revisit the Standing Orders once the Government's guidelines have been confirmed.

The report was presented by Iwan Evans (Monitoring Officer).

RESOLVED

1.    To adopt the Initial Standing Orders for the Corporate Joint Committee and accept the proposed direction for the Constitution.

2.    To delegate the power to the Monitoring Officer to make editorial changes to the Standing Orders for their publication and note the need to revisit the Standing Orders once the Government's guidelines have been confirmed.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 required the Joint Committee to make Standing Orders to regulate its proceedings and business. Including the Regulations establishing the CJC on the 1st of April 2021, there were already 3 sets of governance regulations in force. It was added that 2 sets of General Regulations had been adopted with the consultation on the General Regulations (No 3) closed just before Christmas. It was anticipated that the additional Regulations would come into force in the Spring. It was explained that establishing the governance arrangements must respond and develop against a legal situation which was still evolving.

Members were guided through the Standing Orders and it was highlighted that the Membership included the six Constituent Authority Leaders who had power to act on all functions, the Snowdonia National Park Authority representative who had power to act on matters involving the Strategic Development Plan Function only, together with Co-opted Members appointed by the Joint Committee who would have power to act in accordance with the appointment agreement. It was explained that the meetings would be open and the press and public would be given access, and it was added that a calendar of meetings would need to be created. It was highlighted that five members needed to be present to be quorate and the members would need to designate a substitute.

It was explained that, in relation to voting arrangements, a simple majority system would be followed, but that a unanimous vote would be needed in order to determine budget contributions and changes in voting arrangements. It was also noted that a casting vote would not be used other than on Strategic Development Plan matters. It was explained that statements of the decisions would be published but that they would not be subject to calling-in arrangements. However, it was noted that the regulations on overview and scrutiny arrangements were yet to be published and may mean that this could change.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     It was enquired how the Joint Committee would create Sub-committees. It was noted that it would be a Joint Committee decision and that Terms of Reference would need to be created for the Sub-committee together with delegated rights.

¾     It was expressed that having a scrutiny procedure was extremely important and that firm arrangements and development mechanism needed to be in place. It was stressed that the Standing Orders would continue to evolve over time.

¾     It was emphasised that initial Standing Orders were submitted to the Joint Committee and it was explained that they would be re-submitted to the Joint Committee for further consideration following any adaptations and any developments once further guidelines from Welsh Government had been received.