ANNEX 1

Constitution and Rules of The Commissioning Body

Form

The Commissioning Body is an advisory body and is not intended to be a separate legal entity.  The relationship between the Parties is as set out in paragraph 13 above.

First Representatives of the Parties 

Robert Evans, Board member of Thames Valley Probation Service

Jean Bradlow, Director of Public Health of South West Primary Care Trust

Neil Gibson, Strategic Director, Housing, Health and Community, of Oxford City Council 

Cllr. Louise Chapman of West Oxfordshire District Council

Cllr. Paul Bizzell of Vale of the White Horse District Council

Cllr. Dorothy Brown of South Oxfordshire District Council

Cllr. Andrew Fulljames of Cherwell District Council

Cllr. Don Seale of the Oxfordshire County Council 	

Functions

To comply with the functions of the Commissioning Body as referred to in the Directions and paragraph 9 above and specifically to agree a Supporting People strategy and annual plan having regard to any Supporting People guidance given by the Secretary of State under Section 93 including the matters mentioned in paragraphs 9.2 and 9.3 above
•	to consider any proposed significant changes to the approved Supporting People strategy and annual plan 
•	to review the approved Supporting People strategy in a manner that has regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State under Section 93

Rules

1.	Membership
The Commissioning Body shall consist of the representatives from the Parties referred to in paragraph 3 of the Memorandum (including the Administering Authority)

2.	Decisions
2.1	Each representative (including the Administrative Authority) shall have one vote
	2.2	The vote of each representative carries equal weight
2.3	The Commissioning Body must obtain unanimity when taking decisions
2.4	Where any decision raises a financial and compliance matter (as mentioned in clause 7 of the Directions), the Commissioning Body may not make a decision, which is incompatible with advice on that matter from the Administering Authority
2.5	Where the Commissioning Body –
(a)	fails to agree the Supporting People strategy in accordance with clause 5 of the Directions; or
(b)	fails to agree an annual plan in accordance with clause 5 of the Directions; or
(c)	disagrees with advice from the Administering Authority (of a type mentioned in clause 7 of the Directions)
it or the Administering Authority may submit the matter to the First
Secretary of State seeking a direction from him under section 93(9).
2.6	For the avoidance of doubt, those Parties which are local authorities confirm that under their respective Constitutions, any decisions taken by each of their respective representatives in relation to the functions of the Commissioning Body set out in clause 9. above are to be treated as:-
(a)	decisions relating to an executive function under the Local Government Act 2000;
(b)	subject to the scrutiny and “call-in” arrangements of their respective Constitutions; and
(c)	key decisions which should appear in their respective forward plans as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event before such decisions are taken.

3.	Proceedings

3.1	Subject to the above, the Commissioning Body may regulate its own proceedings, but in doing so it shall (inter alia) have regard to the Constitution of the Administering Authority.

3.2	The Administering Authority shall by its Committee Services provide committee and administrative support to the Commissioning Body which will include minute taking for meetings of the Commissioning Body and notifying the  Parties of  key dates for the approval of the strategy and annual plans, the fact of decisions of the Commissioning Body having been made (from when call-in periods commence) and the expiry of call-in periods.