Agenda item

To note action taken under urgency procedures concerning a minor amendment to Standing Orders.

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

(Deputy Catherine McGuinness)

1 September 2020

Report of Urgent Action Taken: Proposed revisions to SO 29(4) and SO 30(5): Election of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen

During the annual election process for Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Committees, the provisions of Standing Orders 29(4) and 30(5) have long required the committee clerk to call out the list of all those Members eligible to stand.

Although this had been the practice for many years, the process can delay the elections unnecessarily, especially when the committee is particularly large or where the election is uncontested, and there are other ways in which Members might more helpfully be made aware of who is/is not eligible to stand for either position.

On the basis that the existing practice is unnecessary and, following suggestions from some Members that a more efficient approach could be adopted, revisions were proposed to Standing Orders No. 29(4) and 30(5) to obviate the requirement for all names to be read.

In order to allow for the arrangements to be adjusted in time for the September meetings of various committees (and the elections due to take place there), the proposals were considered and approved under urgency procedures.

Resolved – That the action taken under urgency procedures be noted.