(i)       that the current Policy Development Groups (Joint Operations Team and Joint Commissioning Team) be replaced by a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) and a Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) with membership and terms of reference as set out below:

Membership:

The Mayor and Executive Leads.

Terms of Reference:

1.       to begin early discussions on developing policy in key areas (notably, but not exclusively to those areas that are covered by the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework, or are considered Key Decisions) and to review forthcoming issues in the Forward Plan;

2.       to review and offer opinions/guidance on the policy/development options put forward by officers to assist in the development of Equality Impact Assessments and other formal papers prior to the decision making process;

3.       to consider the most appropriate form of wider consultation and review the outcomes of consultation;

4.       to receive and make recommendations to the Mayor on Overview and Scrutiny reports; and

5.       to receive reports and make recommendations to the Mayor on Executive decisions to enable the Mayor to make decisions at Policy Development Decision Groups.

(ii)      that the two groups in (i) above meet in public on a monthly basis and operate in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders – Executive, Committees, Access to Information and Budget and Policy Framework; and

(iii)      that the Monitoring Officer be requested to make any subsequent changes to the Constitution required as a result of implementing these two groups.