Is the word, “Council” singular or plural?

Question

This question came up in regards to recording meeting minutes.

Which is proper:

MOVED by Councillor Edmonds that Council accept the updated Snow Removal Policy: Policy #S-45-1.

or:

MOVED by Councillor Edmonds that Council accepts the updated Snow Removal Policy: Policy #S-45-1.

Another example:

MOVED by Councillor Peavoy that Council direct administration to carry out a plan of action for all the things discussed in the 2016 Council planning session, and to carry forward tasks emergent from the planning session assignments.

or:

MOVED by Cllr. Peavoy that Council directs administration to carry out a plan of action for all the things discussed in the 2016 Council planning session, and to carry forward tasks emergent from the planning session assignments.

In my mind the former sounds correct, but if it is, then I need an explanation as to why it is correct.

If both are proper, then what is the difference between the two?

Answer 1

In American usage, the council (or legislature, board, congress, gang-of-four, etc.) is singular. Among niggling speakers of archaic and/or HRM the Queen's English, the distinction between singular and plural usage may be made to indicate unanimity, or lack thereof.

The Council desires that the signs be removed might suggest that the members reached consensus, handed down a unanimous vote, or agreed not to disagree in public fora.

The Council desire... might imply a split decision, or otherwise emphasize the plurality of the conciliar body.

(Note that if you say this in the US, we will likely dump tea in your harbour, from which we shall in due course liberate your "u".)

Answer 2

There are two separate things going on here.

First, many people (particularly Americans, though not exclusively) prefer to use the mostly obsolete subjunctive form in a sentence like this, particularly in a formal context like minutes of meetings. The present subjunctive of all verbs is the same as the base (infinite) form; so

Moved that the Secretary accept/direct/be ...

(I've chosen "Secretary" because that is unequivocally singular).

Separately, there is the question of whether "Council" is singular or plural (the question will only come up in this example if you choose not to use the subjunctive). The answer is "either". In American usage, collective nouns like this are nearly always used with singular verbs. In Britain, it's more complicated: they may be used with either, depending on whether the speaker is conceiving of them as a unit or as their separate members.