COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 12, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO.3d)(i)

HEADED ITEM: C. Performance and Change Management Directorate

STANDING COMMITTEES - ORGANISATION, PROCEDURE & FINANCE COMMITTEE - 18TH MAY 2017

a) Draft Calendar of Meeting Dates

b) Report on Conferences/Seminars

c) Nominations for the Formation of An Infrastructure Naming Committee

d) Review of Standing Orders

REPLY:

At the Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee Meeting held on 18th May 2017 the following report was considered:

"Review of Standing Orders

Following a Meeting of the Group Leaders held on the 12th May 2017 to review Standing Orders there was broad agreement that the following amendments should be made to the existing Standing Orders:

Council and Area Committees Standing Orders

(a) The Standing Orders sequence were adjusted to reflect the natural progression of business from the submission of items through to the order of business at the Meetings.

(b) The wording of a small number of existing Standing Orders were amended for clarification purposes.

(c) Insertion of 12 additions/amendments to Standing Orders.

(d) Insertion of 5 additions/amendments to SPC Standing Orders.

Standing orders (in numerical order)     

9.

Insert

Notice of meeting including Agenda is also published on our website www.sdcc.ie for Public and Media inspection.

 

12.

Insert        

At the start of every meeting a roll call is taken to establish the number of Members present and to verify that there is a quorum.

During discussions at the Meeting the Members requested that the amendment at 13 (f) below be removed:

13 (f)

Amend

Members can submit four (4) items of business, either 4 questions or 3 question and one (1) motion.

The Members then requested that the existing wording of standing order of 13 (f) be reinstated (see below)

13 (f) existing standing order content.

Members can submit six (6) items of business, either 6 questions or 5 question and one (1) motion.

13 (k)

Amend

Business submitted by The Mayor/An Méara will be limited to not more than two motions (the Mayors business cannot be co-signed) but without prejudice to his/her right, as a Member, to submit questions and motions in the ordinary way (see standing order 13f).

13 (L) (4)

Delete

and a second motion once in every quarter.

15 (5)

Delete

proposed without notice

Insert

be submitted to The Mayor/An Méara and the Meeting Administrator prior to 12 noon on the day of the meeting for consideration. The decision of the Mayor/An Méara and the Meeting Administrator shall be final.

42.

Insert

When there is a Roll Call taken a Member must be present when their name is called to vote, otherwise their vote is not recorded.

 

51.

During discussions at the Meeting the Members requested that an amendment be made to the proposed standing order 51.  

Insert       

Broadcasting

No cameras of any kind or sound recording or communication equipment (including all Social Media) may be used at meetings without the prior approval of the Council.

No Member shall disclose the content of any discussions held in the confidential part of a meeting.

All Report/Replies on an Agenda are confidential until they are reached at a meeting.

Any Tweeting/Social Media sharing of items of business prior to it being reached at a meeting is prohibited.

The amendment requested by the Member to standing order 51 was the removal of the wording (including all Social Media) in the text.  See final agreed standing order below.

Broadcasting

No cameras of any kind or sound recording or communication equipment may be used at meetings without the prior approval of the Council.

No Member shall disclose the content of any discussions held in the confidential part of a meeting.

All Report/Replies on an Agenda are confidential until they are reached at a meeting.

Any Tweeting/Social Media sharing of items of business prior to it being reached at a meeting is prohibited.

52.

Insert       

(b) Request for presentations at a deputation.

(i) Establish a number of meetings (twice yearly) to facilitate the making of presentations by groups to the full Council Membership. These meetings to be serviced by the community Department in conjunction with the current deputation’s process.

(ii) Applications should be submitted by a Member on behalf of a group through the Mayor’s office giving details of the group and the proposed content of the presentation.

(iii) Applications will be considered at CPG Meetings and dates decided if approved.

77.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Insert       

Subject to the provisions and requirements of the Local Government Act 2001, or of any other enactment, any Standing Order (other than those relating to the revocation of a resolution – S.O. no. 16, dealing with urgent business – S.O. no. 15(5) or methods of voting – S.O. no. 46), may at any time be suspended on a motion, for the purpose of enabling any specific requirement defined in the suspensory motion to be considered and dealt with by the Council. Such motion shall be submitted prior to 12 noon on the day of the meeting to the Mayor/An Méara and the Meeting Administrator for consideration. The decision of the Mayor/An Méara and the Meeting Administrator shall be final. The suspension of Standing Orders is subject to the requirement that two-thirds of the Members present vote in favour.

81.

Insert          

(1)    A casual vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Section 19 of the Local Government Act 2001.

(2)   In the event of a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of a Non Party Councillor, the co-option nominee will be made by the Outgoing Councillor at time of resignation.

(3)    (a) In the case of death in service of a Non Party Councillor, the co-option replacement will be made on the previous nomination of the Councillor.

(b) Where no such nomination exists the co-option nomination will be made by the deceased Councillors next of kin.

During discussions at the Meeting the Members requested that the amendment to Schedule A below be removed:

Schedule A

Council Meeting:-

Amend

Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee Meetings:-

Amend

The Members then requested that the existing wording of Schedule A be reinstated (see below)

Schedule A

Council Meeting:-

Amend

Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee Meetings:-

Amend

Strategic Policy Committees Standing Orders

Standing orders (in numerical order) 

1.

Insert

(Social and Community SPC 6.00pm to 7.30pm).

3.

Amend

The quorum for meetings of the Committee shall be 3 members, at least 2 of which must be Councillors, with the exception of the Economic Development Enterprise and Tourism Committee and Housing Committee, whose quorum will be 4 members, at least 3 of which must be Councillors. If after 30 minutes from the agreed starting time of an ordinary meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to a date to be determined by the Chairperson.

5.

Amend

The total membership of each Committee shall be in accordance with the scheme for the establishment of strategic policy committees 2014

14. (b)

Insert

business items not reached at previous meeting.

26.

During discussions at the Meeting the Members requested that an amendment be made to the proposed standing order 26.  

Insert       

Broadcasting

No cameras of any kind or sound recording or communication equipment (including all Social Media) may be used at meetings without the prior approval of the Council.

No Member shall disclose the content of any discussions held in the confidential part of a meeting.

All Report/Replies on an Agenda are confidential until they are reached at a meeting.

Any Tweeting/Social Media sharing of items of business prior to it being reached at a meeting is prohibited.

The amendment requested by the Member to standing order 26 was the removal of the wording (including all Social Media) in the text.  See final agreed standing order below.

Broadcasting

No cameras of any kind or sound recording or communication equipment may be used at meetings without the prior approval of the Council.

No Member shall disclose the content of any discussions held in the confidential part of a meeting.

All Report/Replies on an Agenda are confidential until they are reached at a meeting.

Any Tweeting/Social Media sharing of items of business prior to it being reached at a meeting is prohibited.

This is now before the Organisation, Procedure and Finance Committee for consideration." End of Report to OPF.

The report was NOTED and it was AGREED, on the proposal of Councillor D. Looney, seconded by Councillor F. Timmons, to recommend that the Council adopt the changes proposed in the foregoing report.