150916_Audit Committee Annual Report 14 15

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

COUNCIL

 

28 FEBRUARY 2018

 

REPORT OF THE DEMOCRACY COMMITTEE HELD ON 10 JANUARY 2018

 

REVIEW OF OUTSIDE BODIES

 

Issue for Decision

 

On 10 January 2018 the Democracy Committee reconsidered four Outside Bodies which culminated in providing a final list to be recommended to Council following a series of meetings to discuss the outside bodies review. 

Recommendation Made

 

1.           That the following Outside Bodies be retained and appointed by the relevant Service Committee as listed:

Action with Communities in Rural Kent – CHE Committee

Age UK – CHE Committee

Bentlif Wing Trust – HCL Committee

Brenchley Charity Trust – HCL Committee

Citizens Advice Bureau – CHE Committee

Collis Millennium Green Trust – HCL Committee

Cutbush and Corrall – CHE Committee

KCC Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – CHE Committee (Chairman automatically appointed)

Kent and Medway Civilian-Military Partnership Board – P&R Committee (Chairman automatically appointed)

Kent Community Railway Partnership – SPS&T Committee
Kent Downs AONB Joint Advisory Committee – SPS&T Committee
Local Government Association General Assembly – P&R Committee to appoint non-Voting Member (Leader automatically appointed as voting Member)

Maidstone Area Arts Partnership – HCL Committee

Maidstone Beauvais Twinning Association – HCL Committee

Maidstone Cycling Forum – SPS&T Committee

Maidstone Mediation – CHE Committee

Maidstone Quality Bus Partnership – SPS&T Committee
Maidstone Sea Cadets – HCL Committee

Medway Valley Line Steering Group – SPS&T Committee
One Maidstone – P&R Committee

PATROLAJC – SPS&T Committee

Relate West and Mid Kent – CHE Committee

Rochester Bridge Trust – SPS&T Committee

South East Employers – Employment Committee

South East Rail Passenger Group – SPS&T Committee

Upper Medway Internal Drainage Group – P&R Committee

Vinters Valley Park Trust – CHE Committee

 

2.       That the following Outside Bodies be retained and appointed by the
Democracy Committee:

Allington Millennium Green Trust – Allington Ward Member

Headcorn Aerodrome Consultative Committee – Headcorn Ward Member

Howard de Walden Centre – East and North Ward Members

Hayle Park Nature Reserve – South Ward Member

Maidstone Street Pastors – High Street Ward Member

Relief in Need Charity

Kent and Medway Crime Panel – Leader automatic appointment
          Kent and Medway Economic Partnership – Leader automatic appointment

West Kent Health and Wellbeing Board – Leader automatic appointment

3.       That the following Outside Bodies be deleted:

KCC Youth and Community Charity

KCC Youth and Community Management Committee

Kent County Playing Fields Association

Maidstone Mind

Maidstone YMCA

Mid Kent Downs Steering Group

 

4.       That each outside body representative reports to the appointing Committee at least on an annual basis providing an update.

5.       That the Monitoring Officer be delegated to make the necessary changes to the Constitution.

Reasons for Recommendation

 

The Democracy Committee had formed a Working Group to carry out an in-depth review of all the outside bodies and in doing so made their recommendations to the Committee at its meeting on 6 September 2017.   

The Committee considered each of the outside bodies against the following criteria:

 

  1. Is this an appointment to a strategic body and/or is there a statutory requirement?

  2. Does the Council provide funding to this body – is it of a significant level, is a member appointment essential to oversee the funding?

  3. Is there a legal requirement for a council appointment if a charitable trust?

 

The Democracy Committee considered the Outside Bodies for retention and deletion at its meetings of 6 September 2017, 15 November 2017 and 10 January 2018.

 

Appendix A contains the original recommendations from the Outside Bodies Working Group to provide members with information on the Outside Bodies recommended for deletion and retention. It is important to note that these recommendations were not all accepted by the Committee and the recommendations outlined above are those that were recommended to Council.

 

Alternatives Considered and Why Not Recommended

 

The Council could choose to amend the Outside Bodies for retention or deletion. However the Democracy Committee has considered this topic on several occasions and their recommendation has been made following detailed deliberations by members of the Committee.

 

Background Documents

 

Appendix A - Outside Bodies - Proposals of Outside Bodies Working Group 24 July 2017