Agenda item

Report number LDS030 by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.        (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.   To appoint Councillor Judy Stevens as the Council’s representative on Deeping St James United Charities

2.   To appoint Councillors Ray Auger and Reg Howard as the Council’s representatives on the Deepings Town Centre Partnership

3.   To appoint Councillors Ray Auger, Jacky Smith, Paul Cosham and Reg Howard to the Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board

Report number LDS030 on the appointment of representatives on outside bodies by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services was before the Council. At its last meeting on 19 May 2011, the Council agreed to defer appointments to Deeping St James United Charities, Deepings Town Centre Partnership and the Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board, pending the outcome of the Deeping St. James by-election on 23 June 2011.

Deeping St. James United Charities

Mrs Carol Precey was proposed and seconded as the Council’s representative for Deeping St. James United Charities. The Council’s Constitution specified in Council Procedure Rule 1.2(iv) that the Council would “receive nominations of Councillors to serve on each committee or Policy Development Group and outside bodies”, however it was noted that Mrs Precey had served as the Council’s representative in the past. The chairman agreed to defer voting on this item for officers to research the Council’s position.

Deepings Town Centre Partnership

Councillors Auger and Howard were proposed and seconded as representatives for the Deeping Town Centre Partnership. On being put to the vote, this was carried.

Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board

Six nominations were received to fill four seats on the Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board: Councillors Jacky Smith, Auger, Cosham, Howard, Dilks and Broughton. All nominations received a seconder.

It was proposed and seconded that Council Procedure Rule 13 (xiv) be suspended for voting on this nomination only. This would mean using an alternative to the electronic voting system. This was put to the vote and carried.

A proposal was made that all nominees should provide the Council with a 30-second summary detailing the skills that made them suitable for the role, particularly as there were a large number of new members. This was seconded. On being put to the vote, this was lost.

One Member suggested that all nominees should stand up so that all Councillors could see who they were before they voted. It was further proposed:

“that when members are elected to a PDG and/or outside bodies, the member stands and is identified, particularly at the beginning of a term and that this is added to the Constitution.” The proposal was seconded.

A further amendment was made with reference to the district council’s appointment of representatives to outside bodies:

“That:

1.           The Constitution Committee should look at the process of selection

2.           Councillors maintain a public record of attendance

3.           Where councillors attend meetings that they produce a report which is then submitted to the relevant PDG for consideration/agree appropriate action if required.”

This amendment was seconded.

Under Council Procedure Rule 14.10(iv) it was proposed and seconded “that the question be now put”. In accordance with council procedure rule 14.11(iii) the Chairman prepared to move to a vote on this motion.

Councillor Broughton stated he would withdraw from the running to avoid the politicisation of the appointments. Councillor Dilks also withdrew. This left the appropriate number of nominees to fill all the vacancies on the body and a vote was taken (by hand) to confirm their appointment. Councillors Auger, Jacky Smith, Cosham and Howard were appointed by a majority vote.

NOTE: The Chairman of the Constitution Committee agreed to consider the proposed amendments at a future meeting of the Constitution Committee.

15:37-15:53       The meeting adjourned

Deeping St. James United Charities

Officers had clarified that at its meeting on 6 September 2007, the Council agreed that “the Council allows only appointments of existing councillors” to outside bodies. The nomination for Mrs Precey was withdrawn and Councillor Judy Stevens was proposed and seconded as the Council’s representative on Deeping St. James United Charities. This was put to the vote and carried.