Issue - meetings

In accordance with the provisions of Section 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to appoint Members to Committees for the Civic Year, in accordance with the wishes expressed by the Political Groups.

The Chairman of the Council presented the report which set out the wishes expressed by the political groups in respect of the appointment of Members to serve on each of the Council’s formal Committees for the 2022/23 Civic Year.

The report also sought to suspend the rules relating to proportionality in respect of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as had been the case since Annual Council in May 2019.  Members were reminded the suspension of political balance required all Members to vote in favour, as opposed to a “majority” decision.

The Leader of the Opposition indicated immediately that he would not be supporting the suspension of political balance, nor would he be making nominations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, outlining the reasons for his position, namely the Administration’s decision to seek a reduction in the number of Vice-Chairmen on the Scrutiny-Committee, and in his view the Leader having reneged on his commitment to make no changes to the make-up of committees.

Advice was sought from the Monitoring Officer, given the position expressed by the Leader of the Opposition.  Members were advised the previous report noted by Council had set out the number of seats afforded in the event that balance was not suspended.  As such the Administration Group were afforded three more seats, the allocations afforded to the other Groups remained unchanged.  The Monitoring Officer further advised that the nomination of Councillor Mrs Lawrence to the Scrutiny Committee was not constitutionally acceptable.  As such three further nominations were made by the Leader, Councillor Mrs T Coulson, Mrs C McCartney and R Waller.  Councillor P Morris would replace Councillor Mrs A Lawrence.

The report when published had not included the nominations of the Liberal Democrat Group, these had been received by the Monitoring Officer, earlier in the day and were read aloud to the meeting.

RESOLVED that

(a)     the rules relating to proportionality in relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be not suspended;

(b)     In accordance with the provisions of section 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the wishes expressed by political groups, Members be appointed to serve to the Council’s Committees for the 2022/23 civic year as follows: -

Chief Officer Employment Committee (9 Members)

Councillor Owen Bierley

Councillor Jackie Brockway                      

Councillor Stephen Bunney

Councillor Mick Devine                                         

Councillor Diana Rodgers

Councillor Lesley Rollings

Councillor Anne Welburn

Councillor Angela White

Councillor Trevor Young

Corporate Policy and Resources Committee(14 Members)

Councillor Owen Bierley

Councillor Matt Boles

Councillor Stephen Bunney

Councillor Liz Clews

Councillor Mick Devine

Councillor Ian Fleetwood

Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan

Councillor John McNeill

Councillor Tom Regis

Councillor Mandy Snee

Councillor Jeff Summers               

Councillor Bob Waller

Councillor Anne Welburn                          

Councillor Trevor Young

Governance and Audit Committee (7 Members)

            Councillor Jackie Brockway                      

Councillor Stephen Bunney

Councillor Tracey Coulson                                    

Councillor Chris Darcel

Councillor Caralyne Grimble

Councillor John McNeill                                         

Councillor Angela White

Licensing Committee (14 Members)

Councillor Liz Clews

Councillor David Cotton

Councillor Tim Davies

Councillor Caralyne Grimble

Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan

Councillor Angela Lawrence         

Councillor Cordelia McCartney

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86