A G E N D A

Minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 4th May, 2010 (copy attached). 

Apologies

To receive any apologies for non-attendance.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest. 

Questions Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 9.4

Question to the Leader of the Council submitted by Councillor L.J.Ashley:-

"Bearing in mind the requirement of the Council to reduce costs for Council services and contracts in the present difficult financial climate, what steps are the Council taking or contemplating with the aim of liaising with other local authorities by going into partnership, sharing, outsourcing or discussing the provision of Council mandatory or non obligatory services or contracts?  If so what specific services and contracts are being carried out or considered and if not why not?"

Leader of the Council to respond. 

Note:  A Councillor may ask the Chairman of Council, a member of the Executive or the Chairman of any Committee, Sub-Committee or Panel a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District of South Staffordshire provided that:-

they have given at least seven working days notice in writing of the question to the Chief Executive; or

the question relates to urgent matters, they have the consent of the Chairman to whom the question is to be put, and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 11.00a.m. on the day of the meeting.  Every question shall be put and answered without discussion but the person to whom the question has been put may decline to answer. 

Report of the Leader of the Council (copy attached)

Note:  Council Procedure Rule 10 states:-

The Leader of the Council shall at each ordinary meeting of the Council submit a report on the work of the Executive, and shall be open to question thereon.

The Leader of the Council may invite (a) representative(s) of a partner organisation(s) to address the Council in respect of any matters referred to in the Leader's report relating to partnership working between the Council and the organisation(s).

A member of the Council may, at the discretion of the Chairman, ask the Leader of the Council a question relating to a matter referred to in the Leader's report to Council and may, after having the response from the Leader (or at the Leader's discretion the relevant Deputy Leader or representative of a partner organisation) ask one supplementary question      on the point of the original question.

A member of the Council may question the Leader once (with the provision for a supplementary question) on each item in the Leader's report. 

An answer by the Leader of the Council (or appropriate Deputy Leader) may take the form of:

a direct oral answer by the Leader of the Council

a direct oral answer by a Deputy Leader with portfolio responsibility for the matter subject to question

a direct oral answer from a representative or a partner organisation invited by the Leader of the Council to respond

where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or

where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated to the questioner.

There shall be no debate on a question submitted under Procedure Rule 10.3.  A questioner may request that the matter under question be referred to the Executive or appropriate committee/sub-committee/panel, if such a request is made the Chairman will ask for a seconder to the proposal, the seconder will have no right to speak on the proposal; the Member of the Council, in responding to the question shall have the right to comment on the proposed referral.  The question will then be put to the vote without further debate.

Report of the Regulatory Committee re: Members' Allowances Scheme (copy attached)

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer re: Amendment to the Constitution of the Council - Petitions Scheme (copy attached).

Chairman's Announcement

To receive any announcements which the Chairman wishes to bring to the attention of the members.

Note:  Members, officers and the public are requested to stand at the conclusion of the meeting whilst the Chairman and Vice-Chairman leave the Council Chamber.