Amendment to standing orders

Report: 4
Meeting: Metropolitan Police Authority
Date: 14 September 2000
By: Clerk

Summary

This report seeks approval to amendments to the Authority’s Standing Orders making provision at Full Authority meetings for questions from the public and the process for dealing with petitions. The report also recommends that provision be made for the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee to receive question from the public at its meetings.

A. Supporting information

Background

1. Initial Standing Orders were received and approved by the Authority at its inaugural meeting on 26 June 2000. A further report was presented to members on 28 July 2000, which outlined options for holding public questions and the process for dealing with petitions. Members subsequently approved the proposed mechanism for receiving questions at full Authority meetings and the process for receiving petitions, subject to minor amendment.

2. Members requested at the full Authority meeting on 28 July 2000 that the revised Standing Orders be submitted to this meeting for final approval. A copy of the revised Standing Orders is attached at Appendix 1. Attention is drawn to new paragraphs 15 and 16.

Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee

3. The Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee have agreed to hold meetings throughout London, with each meeting being held in a different London Borough. The aim of this is to provide local communities with easier access to meetings. In order to help local people to feel that they are more engaged in this process it is suggested that provision needs to made to allow members of the public the opportunity to ask questions at these meetings. With this in mind it is proposed that provision be made in Standing Orders for the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee to hold a question time for a maximum of thirty minutes.

B. Recommendations

1. That the revised Standing Orders, as given at Appendix 1 be approved; and
2. That with regard to the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee, the Standing Orders be amended to allow the facility for a public question time for a maximum of thirty minutes.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications.

D. Review arrangements

It is suggested that the Authority undertakes a review of this situation in 12 months.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed above or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

• MPA report. 28 July 2000 ‘Petitions and Public Questions’

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Nick Baker.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

If you would like a copy of these amendments to the Standing Orders please contact the MPA.

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