Agenda item

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services presented the report. He said that in accordance with paragraph 2.6.5 of the Constitution any minor changes made to the Constitution by the Monitoring Officer must be notified to Members at the next meeting of the Full Council.

He said that the changes in the report were made under two slightly different parts of the Constitution as set out at paragraphs 2.2 and 2.6 of the report, meaning at the terminological change only requires notification to Council, whilst changes required for the proper administration of the Council requires the approval of Members.

He said that the question around the term “chairman” and “chair” was discussed in 2022, however that was as part of a much more substantial, root and branch review of the Constitution where it was gone through in its entirety, page by page and brought before the Council for approval. He said that this was not the same process and was instead a minor change to one piece of terminology. He said that the change being proposed was only in terms of how those posts are referred to in the Constitution itself, and in committee reports. If an individual Member wishes to be verbally referred to by another term, then there is nothing to stop that Member from asking to be referred to in those terms.

Councillor Daar proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Dumont seconded the proposal.

Councillor Daar said that she was surprised the terminology change had not been done before and felt neutral terminology was better. She felt that women were now being recognised and playing an active role in local politics.

Councillor Woolf said she was shocked that this was a discussion the Council were having and felt there were more pressing issues to discuss. She said she understood Councillor Daar’s concerns but would continue to use Chairman.

Councillor Williamson said he was not hung up on the terminology but felt the process was unsettling and wanted to raise his concerns. He felt uncomfortable that as the change had been debated at a previous council meeting, it was now being changed under delegated powers. He said that the Constitution allowed the Monitoring Officer to make a terminology change when it was removing inconsistency and errors.

Councillor Carter said that she appreciated change was difficult but this was a new administration and opinions differ. She said she supported this change.

Councillor Swainston said that society and language evolved and recognised that language should be as gender neutral as possible.

Councillor Hart said she did not feel this change in terminology would achieve much.

Councillor Copley said that she was a mother of a young daughter and felt that the Council needed to move with the times and did not want to return home to her daughter to say the Council had decided to keep the term Chairman.

Councillor Williamson requested a separate vote on the recommendations.

The motion to support recommendation A having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That substitution of the word ‘Chairman’ with the neutral terminology of ‘Chair’ throughout the Constitution, other than for the ceremonial role of Chairman of the Council, be noted

The motion to support recommendation B having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

           RESOLVED – That the minor changes to the Constitution in Appendix A be approved.