1.0 GENERAL
1.1
The Standing Orders govern how The Gavinton Fogo & Polwarth Community Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council“) will conduct their meetings.
1.2
Where any conflict arises between the Constitution of the Council and the Standing Orders of the Council then the Constitution shall take precedence.
2.0 MEETINGS
2.1
Meetings shall be called by notice issued at least seven days before the day of the meeting (except in case of urgency when shorter notice may be given) and specifying the agenda for that meeting.
2.2
The lack of notice to any member of the Council shall not affect the validity of the meeting.
2.3
The proceedings of the Council shall be minuted and the Minutes shall after approval, be signed at the next meeting of the Council by the Chairperson thereat.
2.4
The Quorum for the Council meetings shall be one-third of the Council membership eligible to vote, subject to a minimum of three.
2.5
If the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are both absent from a meeting of the Council, another member, chosen by a simple majority of the members of the Council present, shall preside.
2.6
A member shall not raise any item of business on any matter resolved by the Council within the previous three months.
2.7
The Council may by resolution, suspend for the next meeting, and/or the remainder of a meeting already in progress, any member disregarding the authority of the Chairperson of the meeting, or failing to abide by the SBC Scheme for the establishment of Community Councils – Schedule 3 – Code of Conduct for Community Councillors.
3.0 MOTIONS & AMENDMENTS
3.1
Every notice of motion for a future meeting shall be in the hands of the Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting.
3.2
Members shall be required, in advance, to declare pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests relating to matters which might be under discussion and after doing so shall take no part in their consideration.
3.3
Every motion or amendment shall be moved and seconded. A member who speaks shall direct their speech strictly to the motion under discussion or to a motion of an amendment to be proposed by them self or to a question of order.
3.4
Every amendment shall be relevant to the motion on which it is moved, and in any question it shall be for the Chairperson to decide as to relevancy.
3.5
Every question shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Council; voting shall be by a show of hands by those entitled to vote.
3.6
In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote except where the matter relates to the appointment of a member to any particular office or committee, in which case the decision shall be by lot.
3.7
A dissent from a decision of the Council shall not be minuted unless upon a request made immediately following such a decision by a member who has proposed an amendment to the decision and has failed to find a seconder.
4.0 AMENDMENT OF THE STANDING ORDERS
4.1
The Standing Orders may be amended at any meeting of the Council provided that previous notice of the motion to that affect has been given in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.1 above.
4.2
The Standing Orders may be suspended at any meeting of the Council provided that two-thirds of the number of members present are in favour.
5.0 ADOPTION OF THE STANDING ORDERS
5.1
These Standing Orders, after being agreed by the Council, were adopted at a meeting of the Council held on Monday 6th November, 2017 in Gavinton.
Mr. Keith Dickinson – Chair
Mrs. Kirsten Arthur – Vice Chair
Mr. David Ward – Member
