STIRLING COUNCIL
MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held in the COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2020 at 4.55 pm
Present:
Provost Christine SIMPSON (in the Chair)
Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Margaret BRISLEY
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN
Councillor Danny GIBSON
Councillor Graham HOUSTON
Councillor Chris KANE
Councillor Graham LAMBIE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy MCDONALD
Councillor Susan MCGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Jim THOMSON
Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
Councillor Evelyn TWEED
In Attendance
Carol Beattie, Chief Executive
Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance
Stephen Clark, Chief Officer - Housing
Kristine Johnson, Chief Officer – HR & OD
Kevin Kelman, Chief Operating Officer – People/Chief Education Officer
DrewLeslie, Senior Manager - Infrastructure
Islay Moore, Support Officer, Governance
Stuart Oliver, Senior Manager – Economic Development & Communities
Bruce Reekie, Senior Manager – Environment & Place
Brian Roberts, Chief Operating Officer – Infrastructure & Environment
Julia McAfee, Chief Officer – Governance (Clerk)
Louise McDonald, Committee Officer (Minutes)
SC289 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor Alasdair MacPherson.
SC290 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
SC291 EMERGENCY DECISION-MAKING POWERS FOR URGENT MATTERS
The report highlighted the current provision within the Council’s Scheme of
Delegation granting additional powers to the Chief Executive to determine urgent matters, during periods when the Council was in recess.
The report requested an extension of that provision to allow the Chief Executive to determine any urgent matters in the event that a meeting of Council or Committee could not be convened as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic, for example, due to a lack of Members or Officers etc.
After it was agreed that Section CE45(a) would be amended to include the wording ‘or suitable nominated deputy’ as per the following:
(a) in respect of urgent matters where a policy decision has already been taken by Council and where budget or other financial provision exists, the Chief Executive/appropriate Chief Operating Officer will consult the Provost/Depute Convener of Council, relevant Portfolio Holder and Convener of the appropriate Committee or suitable nominated deputy, a relevant Opposition Member or suitable nominated deputy, and, as appropriate, the Leader of the Council before a decision is taken. Where possible, a meeting comprising the appropriate persons will be arranged through Democratic Services and a note of the meeting will be recorded; and details of decisions taken will be submitted for the information of Council/Committees (as appropriate) following the recess;
Decision
Council agreed to:
-
extend the provisions of Section CE45 of the Scheme of Delegation
“Additional Powers during Recess Periods” to allow the Chief Executive to
determine any urgent matters in the event that a meeting of Council or
relevant Committee cannot be convened as a result of the COVID-19
(coronavirus) global pandemic; and -
waive the provisions in Section CE45 of the Scheme of Delegation relating to consultation with relevant Members, or suitable nominated deputy, where neither is available as a consequence of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
(Reference: Report by Chief Governance Officer, dated 12 March 2020, submitted)
The Provost declared the Meeting closed at 5.05pm