Deviation from Models standing orders

Question

We are in the process of amending our old standing orders to the model standing orders.  Our clerk who is an experienced clerk wishes to change them slightly to include text
1.If a councillors present at the meeting wish to consider action against the clerks/RFO recommendations the can action can go ahead but the clerk will make notes in the minutes,   resolution was agreed  that the action made against recommendations to the councillor by the clerk.
2. The same person has to stand down as chair after a four year term of office  and that person would have to remain out of office for a year

3 Also if we have councillors on sub committee they must be voted on the committee  
I have read numerous standing orders and can not see any such text on these subjects
Thoughts please

Answer 1

The council are the decision makers not the chair or the clerk. The clerks responsibility is to advise and carry out the councils wishes and decisions.

On point 1 I can understand that the clerk wishes to record in the minutes the fact that they have made certain recommendations to council and that they have carried out their responsibility of office to the council and be negated from future "come backs" should they occur due to council decisions taken. As the clerk cannot demand that their advice be entered in minutes (only councillors) and that the minutes (including clerks notes) have to be passed by council this seems a very enlightened system for recording the clerk's advice

Point 2 the election of a chair is an annual democratic decision by council and to impede this democratic process is unadvisable. A chairs position  should be based firmly in their abilities to meet the duty of chair and not by time in office. A chair can be removed by council annually and anyone wishing to become chair can be proposed and voted on then.
Point 3 committees and their structure are for council to debate and decide upon and not for clerk to dictate only advise.

Comments

Thank you for you answer

Answer 2

1.  As a clerk I always reproduce recommendations from reports in meeting minutes as motions, whether they be mine or anyone else's, and then go on to say whether they were carried or defeated.  I don't know how anyone would keep track of decisions any other way.

2. I'm pretty sure that this can be added to a council's standing orders.  The addition would of course need to be presented to council as part of the process of amending your standing orders.

3.  Council has the power to appoint its committees and a committee has the power to appoint it's sub-committees.  I'm sure I've seen this in the standard template for standing orders on the NALC site if you want to take a closer look.

Comments

Thank you for taking time to answer this question.  I just understand why you would want to  include this text when you don't need to.  Its clear in NALC model and makes no reference to having go through this extra process.