Issue - meetings

The Chief Executive introduced the report seeking approval of proposals for a new Committee structure, to take effect from the Annual Council Meeting in May. This would see the Council operate with three policy committees instead of two. The proposed terms of reference for the three new policy committees were appended to the report. It was indicated that should the proposal be agreed by Full Council, delegation was sought for the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to effect the changes needed for the new Committee structure. 

The Chief Executive highlighted to Members that following the recent adoption of the Council's Corporate Plan, and the budget which aligned the resources to delivery of the Plan, it was appropriate that the Council considered how its democratic processes supported delivering the commitments detailed in the Corporate Plan. He noted this had also been a comment raised by the Peer Review Team on their recent visit to the Council.

Members were invited to recall that as part of the approval of the Corporate Plan, there were three key themes, those being Thriving Council, Thriving People and Thriving Places. A corresponding thematic business plan was approved against each of those, setting out the Council's intended deliverables and the performance measures against which progress would be assessed.

The Chief Executive expanded that the rationale for the three policy committee proposal was to bring clear remit and responsibility of those committees in terms of their role in delivering against the Corporate Plan; and to give a clear role and remit for the Chairmen and Vice-Chairman of those committees in terms of their responsibilities and in leading their committees to deliver against those commitments.

Attention was directed to paragraph 1.4 which highlighted that the draft Terms of Reference would be subject to further review and refinement, subject to approval of the principle of three policy committees, and the final Terms of Reference would be presented to the Annual Council Meeting in May 2026.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Executive and invited comments from the floor.

The Leader of the Council expressed her support for the proposal, seeking one amendment to the wording regarding monitoring aspects of work undertaken by contractors. She requested that the point be amended to ensure clarity of purpose, and suggested the use of ‘external providers’ rather than ‘contractors’. The amendment was noted to be taken forward on reviewing the draft documents.

Concerns were expressed regarding the role of the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen in the proposed structure, with Members suggesting the enhanced roles were indicative of an executive model of governance, as opposed to the committee structure in place at West Lindsey District Council. In response, the Chief Executive assured Members that the governance of the Council would continue through the committee system, however in any governance structure, political leadership was a key element, with the proposal seeking to strengthen that, as well as benefit the Council from enhanced working relationships between Members and Officers.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104