To agree amendments to the constitution relating to the Health and Wellbeing Board and new pavement licensing legislation.

Council considered a report by the Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee which contained amendments to the constitution including the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board and appeal arrangements for pavement licensing.

The Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee proposed the report and recommendations. In introducing the report he explained that the Audit and Governance committee had considered the outcomes of a review of the Health and Wellbeing Board and had recommended a change to its membership. The solicitor to the Council had advised that changes to the constitution were also required to take account of pavement license legislation introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Christy Bolderson seconded the recommendations in the report as the Vice Chairperson of the Audit and Governance Committee. The Committee had considered the changes to the health and wellbeing board membership but had been unable to consider the changes to the right of appeal for pavement licenses due to time pressures. Both constitutional changes were felt to be routine and were commended to Council.

A point was raised that the functions of the Health and Wellbeing Board should include reference to holding providers to account and that the balance of the membership on the Board was weighted towards representatives of providers. It was queried whether the functions of the Board could include reference to holding providers to account and the  membership could be amended to include a greater number of patient representatives from rural and urban areas and from the market towns. The Solicitor to the Council explained that such proposals would need to be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Audit and Governance Committee before it could be determined by Council. It was noted that the Committee would undertake a review of the Board in 12 months time which could consider these proposals.

The amendments to the constitution were put to the vote and agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED: That –

(a)        the amendments to the constitution in appendix 1 of the report are agreed    with implementation immediately; and

(b)       the monitoring officer is authorised to amend the constitution to include       a right of appeal for pavement licenses to the licensing subcommittee in            the committee’s functions.