Agenda item

Motions Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No. 10

Motion 1

 

“West Lindsey is currently undergoing radical changes in its administration and opposition.

 

A large majority of Councillors would like to work together more closely in a manner which transcends party politics, in order to improve our collective service to West Lindsey residents and businesses. This change aims to improve the resilience of the Council and to increase experience available to as many Councillors as possible. 

 

I invite Councillors to support the following ten-point commitments:

 

  1. That the West Lindsey Administration be acknowledged as the administration of the council.

 

  1. That the Leader of the council should hold the Leader's position only and should not hold chairmanships or vice-chairmanships on any committee at WLDC.

 

  1. That Councillors, whenever possible, should hold no more than one Special Responsibility position and should receive no more than one Special Responsibility Allowance.

 

4.    That Councillors from different parties within the WLA are allowed to substitute for each other to cover absences, so long as they are members of the formally constituted WLA. 

 

  1. Each committee should have one vice-chairman. In the absence of the named person a vice-chairman should be nominated from the body of the committee for the duration of the meeting. 

 

  1. That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of any West Lindsey Council committee should not be in the same political party unless the political balance of the Council prevents this.

 

  1. That the new Administration commits to a timely refresh of the Council’s Corporate Plan with the adoption of new values and behaviours to reflect the priorities on the new Administration and welcomes the member and staff engagement that is planned in September

 

  1. That the new Administration welcomes the review of internal governance arrangements currently underway to streamline decision making and become more delivery focussed

 

  1. That the Council commits to respond positively and in a timely manner to the Corporate Peer challenge recommendations to ensure the positive work of the council is fully reflected and acknowledged by the LGA Peer Team in its follow up visit next year.

 

  1. That the Council continues to collaborate with its Lincolnshire local authority partners on LGR to ensure that the challenges and opportunities for West Lindsey are fully recognised in proposals that are submitted to government for the benefit of our communities.

  

I so move

Councillor Jackie Brockway”

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman advised the meeting that one Motion had been submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No.10 and this was as set out in the agenda.

 

As the mover of the motion Councillor Jackie Brockway was invited to read aloud her motion to the meeting, as follows: -

 

“West Lindsey is currently undergoing radical changes in its administration and opposition.

 

A large majority of Councillors would like to work together more closely in a manner which transcends party politics, in order to improve our collective service to West Lindsey residents and businesses. This change aims to improve the resilience of the Council and to increase experience available to as many Councillors as possible. 

 

I invite Councillors to support the following ten-point commitments:

 

  1. That the West Lindsey Administration be acknowledged as the administration of the council.

 

  1. That the Leader of the council should hold the Leader's position only and should not hold chairmanships or vice-chairmanships on any committee at WLDC. 

 

  1. That Councillors, whenever possible, should hold no more than one Special Responsibility position and should receive no more than one Special Responsibility Allowance.

 

  1. That Councillors from different parties within the WLA are allowed to substitute for each other to cover absences, so long as they are members of the formally constituted WLA. 

 

  1. Each committee should have one vice-chairman. In the absence of the named person a vice-chairman should be nominated from the body of the committee for the duration of the meeting. 

 

  1. That the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of any West Lindsey Council committee should not be in the same political party unless the political balance of the Council prevents this.

 

  1. That the new Administration commits to a timely refresh of the Council’s Corporate Plan with the adoption of new values and behaviours to reflect the priorities on the new Administration and welcomes the member and staff engagement that is planned in September

 

  1. That the new Administration welcomes the review of internal governance arrangements currently underway to streamline decision making and become more delivery focussed

 

  1. That the Council commits to respond positively and in a timely manner to the Corporate Peer challenge recommendations to ensure the positive work of the council is fully reflected and acknowledged by the LGA Peer Team in its follow up visit next year.

 

  1. That the Council continues to collaborate with its Lincolnshire local authority partners on LGR to ensure that the challenges and opportunities for West Lindsey are fully recognised in proposals that are submitted to government for the benefit of our communities.

  

I so move

Councillor Jackie Brockway”

 

With the motion duly seconded debate ensued, a Member in reference to point 10 suggested that not enough consideration had been given to the reflect the natural integration of services across the Central Lincolnshire region (Lincoln City, West Lindsey and North Kesteven) and that this could have been a viable LGR proposal in his view.

 

Opposition Members also questioned the merit of point 2, suggesting it was unnecessarily limiting in nature, and outlined scenarios where it would prevent potentially the best person resuming a role.

 

Reference point 9 of the motion, and the word timely, Opposition Members sought to understand the exact time-line.

 

The mover of the motion responded to the points, she shared the Member’s view regarding there having been potential in a Central Lincolnshire proposal for LGR, unfortunately, Leaders from other Authorities did not share that view. Point two of the motion she considered captured the ethos of the new Administration and her leadership style, to enable. Her view was that the resilience of the council would be increased significantly if more councillors were involved in decision -making strengthening the Council’s position.

 

The newly appointed Leader gave her commitment to update all Members, on any meetings she attended regarding LGR or relevant conversations, meetings of the District Joint Committee or MCCAA Boards. The matter relating to the Peer Review featured later on the agenda.

 

Having been proposed and seconded on being put to the vote it was RESOLVED that the motion as written be ACCEPTED.