Policies

To consider continuation of the scheme for delegated authority

In March 2020, Council made electronic resolutions to approve a scheme of delegated authority to be put in place during the period when the Council was unable to meet. This scheme has enabled the clerk to continue urgent business while the Council was unable to meet. At the point of time that this scheme was approved, it was unknown whether legislation would be altered to enable remote meetings to be held and should changes be proposed, how long this would take to be implemented in law.
While the Council is now able to meet remotely, Council needs to bear in mind that urgent decisions may still be required during this period. There is also the possibility that members are unable to participate in meetings. If Council is not quorate, the meeting will need to cease and resolutions will not be made.
It is recommended that the scheme of delegation continues until the authority is confident that it can achieve an uninterrupted meeting schedule. Decisions about when this scheme of delegation ceases can be made at a future meeting and reviewed every 2 months at Full Council.

Recommendation: That the scheme of delegation continues until it is formally withdrawn and while in place and where ever possible is reviewed every 2 months at a meeting of full Council.

The circumstances of COVID-19 meant that Council needed to put this scheme together quickly and at short notice. It is recommended that an emergency scheme of delegation is agreed for future periods of emergency and its initiation on each occasion is authorised by the chairman and/or vice-chairman electronically. It is recommended that this is made a standing item for consideration at any future Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.