Review of Standing Orders

Report: 10
Date: 29 June 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

The Authority’s current procedural Standing Orders have been in place since the MPA came into existence in 2000. They were reviewed in May 2003 and July 2004 to correct some omissions and clarify some areas. This report presents some further amendments and additions for members’ consideration, prior to seeking final approval by the full Authority.

A. Recommendations

That

1. the Co-ordination and Policing Committee consider the proposed amendments and additions to the Authority’s Standing Orders; and
2. the Authority approves the Authority’s Standing Orders with immediate effect.

B. Supporting information

1. The current procedural Standing Orders were agreed when the Authority came into existence in July 2000. A review was undertaken in May 2003 and July 2004, to correct some omissions and to update in the light of experience.

2. This report takes account of proposed slight modifications to the Authority standing orders, which have arisen following amendments or changes in legislation and/or to reflexes the way in which the Authority conducts its business.

3. The proposed amendments are indicated in italics in Appendix 1 and can be summarised as follows:

• Option for Authority to remove member from a committee for non attendance. (SO 1.2.3.)
• The inclusion of arrangements for joint meetings of Authority committees. (SO 3.4)
• An amendment to the quorum of committee meetings. (SO 4.5.1)

4. With regard to the proposed amendment to the Authority’s quorum for meetings it is not proposed to amend the quorum for full Authority meetings, which will remain at half the membership. However, to ensure that business can be transacted, it is proposed to amend the quorum for committees and sub-committee (with the exception of Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee, which has its own arrangements), from half to one third of its membership (rounded up), with no quorum consisting of fewer than three members.

5. The proposed additions and amendments were supported by the Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 9 June. At that meeting there was some discussion on the format of questions from members of the public to the Authority and it was agreed that there was a need for further consideration of this in another forum.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no significant equalities issues related to the additions/changes proposed to Standing Orders.

D. Financial implications

None

E. Background papers

Current Standing Orders

F. Contact details

Report author: Nick Baker, MPA

For more information contact:

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

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