Suspend Council Meetings for Four Months

Record of Decision Taken by Katherine Marriott on 16 March 2020

Details of Decision: To suspend Council Meetings for a four months.

Authority for decision

Authority of the Chief Executive RBC constitution Part 3:

1.8 Chief Executive, Executive Managers and Statutory Officers

Functions of the Chief Executive as Head of Paid Service

j) in consultation with the Leader and the appropriate Cabinet member with responsibility for the service area concerned, to authorise the taking or carrying out of action, notwithstanding anything in the Council’s Standing Orders or Financial Regulations, where she considers that circumstances  exist that make it expedient or necessary for action to be taken prior to the time when such action could be approved through normal Council procedures.

A report on such action, and the circumstances justifying the exercise of the delegated powers, shall be made to the next meeting of the Cabinet or the Council as appropriate.

Decision

Following consultation with the Leader (also Cabinet member), to suspend all non-urgent meetings of the Council save for Cabinet and Planning Committee for a period of four months from16 March to July 2020.

Reasons for decision

Central Government has issued advice confirming COVID-19 is most likely to be transmitted when there is close contact (within 2 metres or less) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person.

It is not practical to conduct meetings providing a distance of 2 metres per member/ officer/ public, and given the spread of the virus with new cases being diagnosed daily it is considered expedient to protect members, officers and the public to suspend non-urgent Council meetings for a period of four moths from 16 March 2020.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None – the decision is in accordance with advice from central government.

Conflicts of interest and any dispensation

None identified.

 

Monitoring Information

Key decision?

No.

Confidential/ Exempt (if yes, please state paragraph)?

No.

Do General Exception or Special Urgency Rules apply to this decision?

Yes.

Consultation has taken place with the Section 151 & Monitoring Officer?

Yes.

The Leader, Deputy Leader or relevant Portfolio Member have been consulted?

Yes.

 

Signed

Katherine Marriott