Agenda item

Report number LEG006 by the Legal Service Manager (Monitoring Officer).

                                                                                                            (Enclosure)

DECISION:

1.                That no amendment is made to the Constitution and the Council allows only appointments of existing Councillors.

2.                That Councillor Ian Stokes be appointed to serve as the District Council’s representative on the Earlesfield Youth Centre Management Committee.

3.                That Councillor John Nicholson be appointed to serve as the District Council’s representative on the Council to Protect Rural England.

4.                That Councillor Alan Davidson be appointed to serve as the District Council’s representative on the Lincolnshire Primary School Provisions Panel.

The Monitoring Officer introduced report number LEG006 on appointments as representatives on outside bodies. The Constitution Committee had discussed the issue and recommended that representatives on outside bodies should be drawn from Councillors only.

It was proposed and seconded that “no amendment is made to the Constitution and the Council allows only appointments from existing Councillors”. Members speaking in favour of the motion stressed the importance of accountability. A suggestion was made that all representatives of the Council on outside bodies should send regular reports to the Council on the activities of that body.

Members also suggested that the appointment of Councillors would be beneficial with regard to indemnity insurance and public perception. Several members commented that non-Councillors appointed to represent the District Council on outside bodies had done good work and held a genuine interest in the bodies they served on, when historically there had been little interest from Members. It was also emphasised by some Members that appointments should be made on the basis of suitability and expertise.

An amendment was moved: “no amendment is made to the Constitution and the Council allows only appointments of existing Councillors”. This was seconded. The mover of the original motion agreed to encompass the amendment in the original motion.

Further discussion ensued on accountability. Members were bound by the Code of Conduct when sitting on outside bodies, in addition to any governing documents of the body. A vote was taken on the motion, which was carried.

The decision of Council to appoint only Councillors as its representatives on outside bodies meant that there were four vacancies that needed to be filled: Deeping St. James United Charities, the Earlesfield Youth Centre Management Committee, the Council to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Lincolnshire Primary School Provision Panel.

DEEPING ST. JAMES UNITED CHARITIES

One Member had receipt of a letter from Deeping St. James United Charities. The letter stated that they were undertaking a review of the composition of the body. This could affect the number of representatives the Council was entitled to appoint. It was agreed that no appointment would be made pending the outcome of the structure review.

EARLESFIELD YOUTH CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Alan Davidson should be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Earlesfield Youth Centre Management Committee. A further nomination was received for Councillor Ian Stokes, which was also seconded. On being put to the vote, Councillor Stokes was duly elected as the Council’s representative.

COUNCIL TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND

A nomination to appoint Councillor John Nicholson to the CPRE was received. The nomination was seconded and put to the vote, which was carried.

LINCOLNSHIRE PRIMARY SCHOOL PROVISIONS PANEL

Councillor Alan Davidson was proposed and as the Council’s representative on the Lincolnshire Primary School Provisions Panel. On being put to the vote, Councillor Davidson was appointed.