Decision Taken By: CABINET
Decision No: D120134CAB
Date: 10th October 2012
Decision(s) and Reason(s)
The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012
Minutes
The report explained the provisions of the 2012 Regulations which introduced new requirements relating to the day to day business of local authorities operating under executive arrangements, in particular regarding public access to meetings of the Cabinet and the recording of executive decisions taken by officers. Attention was drawn to the significant additional administrative burden imposed under the present drafting of the regulations and efforts being made at national level to seek appropriate amendments to the legislation.
The Cabinet resolved that:
1) the Monitoring Officer review the access to information procedure rules in Part 4 of the Constitution to give effect to the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 and thereafter submit revisions to the Constitution to the Council for approval;
2) the Monitoring Officer write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with a copy to the District Councils Network, to express the concerns set out in the report and request that the regulations be amended to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities; and
3) the Monitoring Officer report back to the Cabinet on the outcome of the review of the new requirements relating to the publication of executive decisions.
Reasons: As set out in the report of the Chief Solicitor and Monitoring Officer.
Signed Chief Executive: D Hughes
Date of Publication: 12 October 2012
This decision will come into force and may then be implemented on the expiry of 5 working days after publication unless it is called in.