Agenda item

This report sets out the requirements placed on Full Council for the appointment of Members to its Committees and Panels, and the appointment of their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

All Political Group Leaders are responsible for nominating Members from within their respective Groups to each of the Committees/Panels, in accordance with the political proportionality of the Authority as appropriate. Full Council will appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees.

Members considered the requirements placed on Full Council for the appointment of Members to its Committees and Panels, and the appointment of their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. All Political Group Leaders were responsible for nominating Members from within their respective Groups to each of the Committees/Panels, in accordance with the political proportionality of the Authority as appropriate. Full Council were to appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees.

During discussions, Members highlighted the following points:

-       Seven of the proposed Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen were from the Conservative Group, who proportionally should occupy 40% of seats across Committees.

-       A different calculation to decide political balance had been used, adding up all of the seats across ordinary committees and apportioning a percentage of seats to each political group. The previous calculation used appeared unfair to the smallest political groups on Council.

An amendment was proposed and seconded to recommendation 1 “to revert to the previous formula for selecting individuals to serve on Committees”.

In response to this it was noted that all eight group leaders had agreed to the new formula prior to the meeting and that the previous formula would have excluded the Labour and Co-operative Group and the Green Group from holding any seats on the Council outright. Upon holding the vote, the amendment FELL.

Debate ensued on the substantive motions:

-       All members of Council had received a list of suggested members to take seats on Committees that had been agreed with political Group Leaders, which had been added to during the meeting. It was outlined that there were still some vacancies amongst the Committee and Panels; it was suggested these could be filled under delegation to the Chief Executive in consultation with Group Leaders.

-       The Leader outlined the list of Chairman and Vice-Chairman proposed within recommendation three and was content that they were suitable nominations as Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

-       A procedural motion was made by a Member for a 10-minute adjournment for consideration of the proposed individuals. This was seconded but on being put to the vote the proposal FELL.

-       An amendment to the list of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen was proposed and seconded, which would see Councillor Charmaine Morgan continuing as the Chairman of the Planning Committee. The Leader of the Council confirmed that a rollcall vote could take place on an alternative candidate for this role.

-       Following the change of the initially proposed Chairman, Councillor  Byrd was proposed and seconded as the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, as was Councillor Penny Milnes, and this was subjected to a rollcall vote.

-       The suggestion was made by the Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licencing for extra representation to be awarded to the Conservative Group on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Board, as the largest group. The Cabinet Member cited the success of this in the previous year and praised their contribution.

-       The Chief Executive suggested a similar recommendation to that proposed for membership of committees for nominations to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Board. Therefore, the representatives could be discussed and agreed with group leaders.

Having been moved and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council:

1.    Note the changes in political proportionality of the Council and the consequent allocation of seats on Committees (Appendix A of the report).

2.    Approves the appointments to Committees and Panels as agreed with the respective political Group Leaders. A delegation to the Chief Executive in consultation with the relevant political Group Leaders was agreed to fill any remaining vacancies on committees.

3.    Approves the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen as follows:

Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Murray Turner

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Barry Dobson

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Elvis Stooke

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Emma Baker

Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Bridget Ley

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Gareth Knight

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Lee Steptoe

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Zoe Lane

Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Nikki Manterfield

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Rhea Rayside

Employment Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Anna Kelly

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Gloria Johnson

Governance and Audit Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Tim Harrison

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Paul Wood

Licensing Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Paul Fellows

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Robert Leadenham

Planning Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Charmaine Morgan

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Penny Milnes

Standards Committee

Chairman                  -           Councillor Pam Byrd

Vice-Chairman         -           Councillor Sarah Trotter

4.    Delegates to the Chief Executive in consultation with Group Leaders the power to fill seats on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Board.

The meeting adjourned at 16.20 and resumed at 16.38.