PART 7 – REVIEW REVISION SUSPENSION INTERPRETATION AND PUBLICATION

1.         Duty to Monitor and Review the Constitution

The Monitoring Officer will monitor and review the operation of the Constitution to ensure that the aims and principles of the Constitution are given full effect.

2.         Protocol for Monitoring and Review of the Constitution by the Monitoring Officer

A key role for the Monitoring Officer is to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the Constitution adopted by the Council, and to make recommendations for ways in which it could be amended in order to better achieve the purposes, as set out in Article 1.  In undertaking this task, the Monitoring Officer may:

1.         observe meetings of different parts of the Member and Officer Structure;

2.         undertake an audit trail of a sample of decisions;

3.         record and analyse issues raised with him or her by Members, Officers, the Public and other relevant stakeholders; and

4.         compare practices in this Authority with those in other comparable authorities, or national examples of best practice.

3.         Approval

Changes to the Constitution will only be approved by the Council after consideration of the proposal by the Monitoring Officer.

4.         Suspension of the Constitution

(a)        Limit to Suspension

The Articles of this Constitution may not be suspended.  The Procedure Rules, as specified in Part 4 of the Constitution, may be suspended only to the extent permitted within those Rules and the law.

(b)        Procedure to Suspend

A Motion to suspend any rules will not be moved without notice, unless at least one half of the whole number of Councillors is present.  The extent and duration of suspension will be proportionate to the result to be achieved; taking account of the purposes of the Constitution, as set out in Article 1.

5.         Interpretation

            The ruling of the Mayor as to the construction or application of this Constitution, or as to any proceedings of the Council, shall not be challenged at any meeting of Council.  Such interpretation will have regard to the purposes of this Constitution, as contained in Part 2 of Article 1.


6.         Publication

(a)        The Chief Executive will give each Member of the Council access to the Constitution upon delivery to him or her of that individual’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office on the Member first being elected to the Council.

(b)        The Executive Director: Delivery will ensure that copies are available for inspection at Council offices, Libraries and other appropriate locations, and can be purchased by Members of the local press and the public on payment of a reasonable fee.

(c)        The Executive Director: Delivery will ensure that the Summary of the Constitution is made widely available within the area and is updated as necessary.