This is how Trafford Council explains it – and, more importantly, how it was able to incorporate this law into its Standing Orders IMMEDIATELY.
The Regulations
2.1 The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 were passed last week. The Regulations make it mandatory for councils as soon as is practicable after the Regulations are in force, to amend their Standing Orders so as to include provisions requiring recorded votes at budget meetings.
2.2 This will require a recorded vote on any decision relating to the budget or council tax. The purpose of the Regulations is to allow people to see how members voted on the substantive budget motions agreeing the budget, setting council taxes or issuing precepts and also on any amendments proposed at the meeting.
2.3 The regulations will come in to force on 25 February 2014, which is after the proposed date of Trafford’s Budget Council meeting. However, it is the Minister’s expectation that councils will take a recorded vote
on these matters in any event and therefore it is recommended that we amend our Standing Orders to reflect the changes required by the Regulations from the 25 February 2014 and adopt the practice for this meeting.
Has EDDC done this? If so, ALL decisions about the Skypark move MUST be by recorded vote.
East Devon Watch 