Agenda item

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

Members noted that no nominations had been included in the report and as such the Chairman advised he would take nominations, any counter nominations and hold a vote for each position in turn, with the exception of those highlighted in the report.

Therefore, nominations were sought for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Chief Officer Employment Committee.

In response to a Member’s Point of Information, Officers confirmed that if no nominations were made and no positions appointed to, each Committee would need to, when it met, appoint a Chairman for the meeting only.  The Committee not having a Chairman, would not prevent the Committee’s from meeting, and as such this was a matter for Member decision.

Nominations were sought for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Chief Officer Employment Committee, with the following nominations being proposed and seconded: -

·       Councillor Lesley Rollings

·       Councillor John Barrett

Another Member supported the notion of deferring appointments given the Council would most likely need to revisit these matters at its next meeting.  However, with formal nominations made and not withdrawn the Chairman advised the Chamber they would now need to vote on the matter.

On moving to the vote, a request for a recorded vote was made and duly seconded. As such the motion was put to a recorded vote, with votes being cast as follows: -

Votes for Cllr Rollings: Councillors Darcel, Dobbie, Hague, Howitt-Cowan, Rollings, Velan and Young (7)

Votes for Cllr Barrett: Councillors Barrett, Bierley, Bridgwood, Brockway, Brown, Carless, Duguid, Lawrence, Lee, McGhee, Morris, Palmer, Pilgrim and Rodgers (14)

Abstentions: Councillors Bennett, Boles, Bunney, Flear, Key, Mullally, Snee J, Snee, M Westley (9)

With a total of 7 votes cast for Councillor Rollings, 14 votes cast for Councillor Barrett and 9 abstentions, Councillor Barrett was declared APPOINTED.

Arising from political exchange the newly notified Leader of the Opposition confirmed her previous stance on the number of Vice-Chairmen and that in her view each Committee should only have need for one.  The Chairman in bringing order advised Members that reducing the number of positions was not within the gift of Members this evening and would require a motion with notice to Council.

Moving to the next position to be appointed to, again Members expressed support for the notion to defer, with several Members informally supporting calls for a deferral and becoming frustrated by the procedure.

Having sought advice the Chairman advised the Chamber that if nominations for positions were made, seconded and not withdrawn, they would have to be put to the vote, alternatively, noting the mood and appetite of the Chamber, a Member could choose to move a formal procedural motion to defer the appointments to the next meeting.

A procedural motion to defer the appointments was duly made and seconded and on being put to the vote was CARRIED.

The Chairman confirmed that the appointment made earlier would stand until the next meeting, given it was voted upon prior to the motion to defer being supported.

In responding to Members’ questions as to how Committee briefings would operate in the interim period in the absence of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen, Officers indicated that all Members appointed to the Committee would be invited to attend the planned Committee briefings, again re-iterating Council business would not be hindered, and Members would continue to be engaged.

On that basis it was RESOLVED that:

(a)    Councillor John Barrett be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Chief Officer Employment Committee;

(b)    the remainder of the appointments detailed in Table 1 of the report be deferred to a future meeting; and

(c)    the normal commencement time for each of the Committees be confirmed in accordance with the schedule detailed in Table 1 of the report.