'Strange times' as senior Sunderland councillors vote through special powers

On Tuesday March 24, Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet approved a raft of special measures suspending usual rules and procedures.

“We’re in strange times,” council leader Graeme Miller told his colleagues.

“But Covid-19 means we need to be doing these things as a matter of urgency.”

The council’s chief executive, Patrick Melia, is set to be handed permission to “authorise any action reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety or welfare of individuals or the safety of property.”

The measures are expected to be signed off on Wednesday at a meeting of full council.

This will include:

Responsibility for decisions normally made by council committees, such as planning and licensing. Powers to appoint members of ‘committees, sub-committees, boards and external bodies’ which would normally require the approval of the full city council In the absence of the chief executive, the executive director of corporate services will be authorised to make decisions. Delegated powers to allow council officers to make decisions on ‘non-urgent matters’ that would normally be dealt with by council committees or sub-committees.

A report for councillors states the temporary measures will be ‘kept under review’ in line with Government advice.

It adds that ‘where reasonably practicable’ all decisions will be made with input from the council’s elected leadership or chairs of relevant committees.

When urgent actions are taken, the chief executive will also submit a report to the relevant committee recording the circumstances and details of the action taken.

Council leader, Graeme Miller, has previously said the changes reflect the changing picture in relation to Covid-19 where it may not be possible to summon full council or hold other decision-making meetings.

This is in response to guidance around reducing social contact, or where there has to be more urgent and rapid decision-making.

Council bosses are also considering changes to the constitution from May 20, 2020.

Amendments would normally be made at the council’s annual meeting but due to the coronavirus crisis, it’s unknown whether this can go ahead.

Measures include the council’s four planning committees being reduced to two, ‘Planning and Highways East and West.’

Licensing and Regulatory committees will be merged into one single committee – however sub-committees can be set up to deal with licensing matters.

Place and People Boards, which are linked to the city’s five area committees covering Sunderland East, West and North, Washington and Coalfields will also be changed.

In their place, neighbourhood and community boards would sit below each committee to carry out business normally undertaken by people and place boards.

Increased delegated powers and changes to the constitution will be discussed at full council on Wednesday at 4pm.