Agenda item

Having re-appointed the Committees the report under consideration sought to appoint Chairman and Vice-Chairmen to each of the Committees and for Council to agree the normal commencement time for each.

 

No nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny had been received in advance, and on seeking nominations none were forthcoming.  However, the Leader of the Opposition indicated he had submitted counter proposals, to those written in the report, for each of the other positions named and these were shared with the Meeting.

 

At the request of the Chairman, the Monitoring Officer outlined the process to be taken, given the multiple nominations individual votes would need to be taken for each of the positions.   The stance was challenged by Point of Order with Members suggesting the verbal nominations should be treated as amendments and taken first.   The meeting was directed to Procedure Rule 14.6 - Voting on appointments which outlined the process, the Chairman indicated her agreement.

 

Noting the advice provided by the Monitoring Officer, but also the way in which votes had been cast up until this point in the meeting, for efficiency, it was proposed and seconded that nominations for positions detailed in recommendation (2) of the paper be taken en-bloc.  Those voting “for” being in support of the names in the report, those voting “against”, preferring the names provided verbally.

 

A Member requested that, in the first instance, the decision to take nominations en-bloc be a recorded vote, with the request duly seconded.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner: -

 

For:- Councillors Bierley, Coulson, Davies, Devine, Ellis, Fleetwood, Grimble, Hill, Lawrence, McCartney, J McNeill, Milne, Morris, Patterson, Regis,  Rodgers, Summers, Waller and Welburn (19)

 

Against:- Councillors Boles, Bunney, Clews, Cotton, Darcel, Dobbie, Oliver, Panter Rainsforth, Rollings, J Snee, M Snee and Young (13)

 

Abstain: - Councillor White (1)

 

With a total of 19 votes in favour, 13 votes against and 1 abstention, the motion was carried and it was therefore: - 

 

RESOLVED that nominations for the positions detailed in recommendation 2 (a) – (i) of the report be taken en-bloc.

 

The Monitoring Officer again read aloud the nominations received verbally, for each position as follows:

 

 

 

Members were advised that those voting “for” would be voting for the nominations as in the printed report, those against for the names provided verbally and detailed above.

 

Again a Member requested that the decision be subject to a recorded vote, with the request duly seconded.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner: -

 

For:- Councillors Bierley, Coulson, Davies, Devine, Ellis, Fleetwood, Grimble, Hill, Lawrence, McCartney, J McNeill, Milne, Morris, Patterson, Regis,  Rodgers, Summers, Waller and Welburn (19)

 

Against:- Councillors Boles, Bunney, Clews, Cotton, Darcel, Dobbie, Oliver, Panter Rainsforth, Rollings, J Snee, M Snee and Young (13)

 

Abstain: - Councillor White (1)

 

With a total of 19 votes in favour, 13 votes against and 1 abstention, the motion was carried and it was therefore: - 

 

RESOLVED that those persons detailed at Table 1 of the report be appointed to the positions stated.

 

Council’s attention turned to determining the start times for each of the Committees, with suggested start times, for each set, out within the report.

 

A Member of Council expressed concern, at the proposed start time of the Governance and Audit Committee, which he considered was not inclusive and purposely excluded some Members for taking part in the Committee.  This concern had been raised previously, at a number of Committee meetings and through the Rule 9 Question to Council Procedure. The Member further referenced best practice visits which had been arranged to visit a neighbouring Council, noting the start time there was 5pm, something he considered far more appropriate, and would allow a greater number of members to engage and take part in the Committee.

 

The current Chairman of the Governance outlined the history in the proposed change of time, the lengthy prior consultation which had been undertaken, also referring the Councillor to the previous responses he had received when raising these concerns.

 

An amendment to the start time of the Governance Audit Committee, namely that the Committee start at 5pm not 10.00am as stated was proposed and duly seconded.   Again, a request for a recorded vote on the matter was made and duly seconded.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner: -

 

For - Councillors Boles, Bunney, Clews, Cotton, Darcel, Davies, Dobbie, Hill, Oliver, Panter, Patterson, Rainsforth, Regis, Rollings, J Snee, M Snee and Young (17)

 

Against:- Councillors Bierley, Coulson, Devine, Ellis, Fleetwood, Grimble, Lawrence, McCartney, J McNeill, Milne, Morris, Rodgers, Summers, Waller and Welburn (15)

 

Abstain: - Councillor White (1)

 

With a total of 17 votes in favour, 15 votes against and 1 abstention, the amendment was CARRIED with it now being proposed the Governance and Audit Committee commence at 5pm.

 

Further debate ensued, with Members continuing to express differing views, points around the commencement time of the Committee. With continued reference to best practice visits and the comparison of the start times being used, the Chairman of the Governance and Audit Committee called for a Point of Order, noting that the Councillor was misleading Members.  He outlined the purpose of visits to the neighbouring authority, noting the services the two authorities shared and which were subject to joint audits and it had been for this reason the authorities had considered working more closely together, at no time had it been suggested one operated to “best practice” standards whilst the other didn’t.

 

With continued disagreement, a further amendment was proposed, namely that Governance and Audit Committee meet at 2pm, accepted by a show of hands.  With all the other Committees’ start times not being disputed it was proposed and seconded that the start times as detailed in the report, with the Governance and Audit Committee amended to 2pm be accepted.

 

A request for a recorded vote on the matter was again made and duly seconded.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner: -

 

For:- Councillors Bierley, Boles, Coulson, Davies, Devine, Ellis, Fleetwood, Grimble, Lawrence, McCartney, J McNeill, Milne, Morris, Patterson, Rodgers, J Snee, Summers, Waller, Welburn and White (20)

 

Against - Councillors Cotton, Darcel, Dobbie, Hill, Oliver, Rainsforth, Rollings, M Snee and Young (9)

 

Abstain: - Councillors Bunney, Clews, Panter and Regis (4)

 

With a total of 20 votes in favour, 9 votes against and 4 abstentions, the amendment was MOTION was carried.

 

Noting that recommendation 1 of the report remained undealt with, it was proposed and seconded that the number of Vice-Chairmanships on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be reduced from two to one.

 

The Leader of the Opposition again challenged the Leader of the Council, as to why such a stance was being taken but having heard his response, which related to a reduced work load for the Committee, indicated his unwillingness to accept the response.

 

A further recorded vote was sought by two Members.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner: -

 

For:- Councillors Bierley, Coulson, Darcel, Davies, Devine, Ellis, Fleetwood, Grimble, Hill, Lawrence, McCartney, J McNeill, Milne, Morris, Patterson, Regis, Rodgers, Summers, Waller, and Welburn (20)

 

Against - Councillors Boles, Bunney, Clews, Cotton, Dobbie, Oliver, Panter,  Rainsforth, Rollings, J Snee, M Snee and Young (12)

 

Abstain: - Councillor White (1)

 

With a total of 20 votes in favour, 12 votes against and 1 abstention, the MOTION was carried.

 

On that basis and following much debate it was

 

RESOLVED that: -

 

(a)    the number of Vice-Chairmanships on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be reduced from two to one;

 

(b)    the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, as detailed below be appointed for the 2022/23 Civic Year to the following Committees: -

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)    the normal commencement time for each Committee be as follows: -

 

Committee	Normal Start Time
Chief Officer Employment Committee	Meetings to be convened as and when required
Corporate Policy and Resources Committee	6.30pm
Planning Committee	6.30pm
Governance and Audit Committee	2.00pm
*Licensing Committee	6.30pm
Overview and Scrutiny Committee	6.30pm
*Regulatory Committee	6.30pm
Prosperous Communities Committee	6.30pm
Standards (Sub) Committee	Meetings to be convened as and when required

 

 

Note:   Councillor White left the meeting following consideration of the above        item of business and did not return to the meeting.