Agenda item

At the meeting held on 30^th June, the Constitution Working Party made the following recommendations to Full Council:

Constitution Working Party Agenda item 5: Amendments to the Constitution – preparing for the introduction of the National Scheme of delegation for planning applications

Recommendations:

1. That Full Council approves the proposed amendments to the Constitution as required by changes prescribed pursuant to the Government’s proposed Town and Country Planning (Discharge of LPA Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 once enacted.

The Working Party also RESOLVED:

2. To put on record the Working Party’s strong reluctance to support the required changes to the Constitution, with Members noting that failing to accept them would leave the Council open to judicial review.

Please note that the above changes will not come into effect until 31^st October 2026.

Constitution Working Party Agenda Item 6: Updates to the Constitution

Recommendation:

That Full Council approves the following changes to Chaoter 2, part 2, section 18.1

(additional sections in italics)

Amendments to motions

18.11.  An amendment to a motion must be relevant to the motion and may be in either or both of the following forms:

(a) To refer the matter to an appropriate body or individual for consideration or reconsideration; or

(b) To leave out words and/or add and/or insert words as long as the effect of so doing is not to negate the motion.

18.12.  Any amendment must be in writing and submitted to the Proper Officer by no later than noon on the day of the meeting, except:

(a) with the consent of the Chair, including amendments proposed during the meeting,

(b) amendments to motions which have been moved without notice, or

(c) amendments to recommendations arising from Officers’ reports.

18.13.  Amendments shall be taken in the order in which they have been moved (unless the Chair determines otherwise for the efficient running of business). Only one amendment may be moved and discussed at any one time. No further amendment may be moved until the amendment under discussion has been disposed of.

18.14   If an amendment is moved, the Chair will ask the proposer of the original motion if they are willing to alter their motion in accordance with the amendment. If they accept, the amendment becomes the substantive motion and is debated. If the proposer of the original motion is unwilling to alter their motion, the Chair will ask if there is a seconder for the amendment. If there is a seconder, the amendment will then be debated and voted upon.

18.15   If an amendment is not carried, other amendments to the original motion may be moved.

18.16   If an amendment is carried, the motion as amended takes the place of the original motion. This becomes the substantive motion to which any further amendments are moved.

18.17.  After an amendment has been carried, the Chair will read out the amended motion before accepting any further amendments, or if there are none, putting it to the vote.

18.18   Members are encouraged to discuss their proposed amendment with the mover and seconder of the motion prior to the meeting to determine if any agreement can be reached.