Teesside Archives
Joint Committee - Terms of Reference
Introduction
1.
The
Joint Committee (known as "The Teesside Archives Joint Committee" has
been established by the authorities (Hartlepool,
Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton in
order to oversee and take decisions in relation to the locating, collection,
preserving, processing and promoting the uses of the archives and records as
defined in the Local Government (Records) Act 1962) in accordance with the
"Agreement". Membership.
2.
Each
authority will appoint 1 executive member to the Joint Committee.
3.
In
the context of the Local Government Act 2000 and related regulations, the
function of the joint committee is an executive responsibility, being a Joint
Committee of less than 5 authorities, the executive of each Council will only
appoint an executive member to the Joint Committee.
4.
Political
balance rules will not apply to those appointments for the committee membership
overall.
5.
Each
Member appointed to the Joint Committee will hold office from the date of
appointment to the date of their respective authority's annual Council meeting,
unless they resign or are replaced beforehand by the appointment by their
authority of a new representative member.
6.
Each
Council must nominate at least one deputy and up to three persons, any of whom
may act as deputy for any of the members of the Joint Committee appointed by
them and, any person so nominated, may attend and vote at any meeting which one
of the members for whom he is appointed deputy is unable to attend, or which is
held at a time when a casual vacancy exists in the members appointed by the
Authority by whom he is nominated. The Joint Committee will appoint a Chair and
Vice Chair from its members. The Chair of the Joint Committee will rotate
annually between four local authorities on the following basis:- Middlesbrough Hartlepool Stockton Redcar and
Cleveland The Joint Committee shall have a Vice- Chair from the authority next
in rotation for the Chair. At the first meeting in the municipal year the Joint
Committee shall appoint as Chair and Vice-Chair the Councillors
nominated by the relevant authorities.
Function and
Powers
7.
The
function of the Joint Committee is to oversee and take decisions in relation to
the locating, collection, preserving, processing and promoting the uses of the
archives and records as defined in the Local Government (Records) Act 1962)
and, in accordance with the powers delegated by the executive of each Council,
parties to the Agreement, the Joint Committee shall administer, maintain and
develop Archives Services and shall do all such things as they consider
necessary or proper to facilitate such purposes in accordance with the
Agreement including:
(a) the preparation and review of the work of the Archives Service;
(b) the monitoring and review of the work of the Archives Service;
(c) the determination of the budget and staffing of the Archives Service;
(d) commenting on matters affecting archives and records regionally and
nationally insofar as they affect the Archives Service. General Provisions
8.
The
Joint Committee shall meet each February for the specific purpose of approving
the proposed budget and at any other time at the specific request of any of the
Councils.
9.
In
the event of a casual vacancy occurring in the office of Chair, the constituent
authority by whom the office holder concerned was nominated will nominate a
successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of the office holder.
10.
If
the Chair is absent from the meeting of the Joint Committee, the Vice-Chair
will preside as Chair for that meeting. In the absence of the Vice-Chair the
Joint Committee shall appoint one of their members to preside.
11.
The
Holding Authority's Head of Legal Services and Director of Finance shall act as
Secretary and Treasurer to the Joint Committee.
12.
Except
in cases of urgency with the approval of the Chair, at least five clear days notice of any meeting, specifying the business
proposed to be transacted, will be sent by the secretary to each representative
member of the Joint Committee, each named substitute and each Chief Executive
of a constituent authority.
13.
Any
three members of the Joint Committee (or their substitutes) shall form a
quorum.
14.
Voting
at Joint Committee meetings will be by show of hands. Each member will have one
vote, save that, in the case of an equality of votes the Chair shall have a
casting vote.
15.
The
Joint Committee has full power to make further rules regarding its proceedings
and the conduct of its business, and to vary such rules, as it may from time to
time consider appropriate, provided that at least three members vote in favour of the resolution.