Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gooch, that the recommendations of the Democracy Committee relating to the Committee Structure Review be approved subject to:

A.   The amendment of recommendation 1 to read:

  That the Committee Structure Review report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Democracy Committee, be agreed subject to the amendment of references to the membership of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board to reflect the actual Borough Council membership (9 Councillors); AND

B.  The amendment of recommendation 2 to read:

That the draft Constitutional Changes, attached as Appendix 3 to the report of the Democracy Committee, be agreed subject to the addition of the following:

2.2.6 LICENSING COMMITTEE

Membership: 13 Councillors

Amendment, moved by Councillor Perry, seconded by Councillor Webb, that the recommendations of the Democracy Committee relating to the Committee Structure Review, as amended, be approved subject to the further amendment of recommendation 2 to read:

That the draft Constitutional Changes, attached as Appendix 3 to the report of the Democracy Committee, be agreed subject to:

A.  The addition of the following:

2.2.6 LICENSING COMMITTEE

Membership: 13 Councillors

AND

B.  The following amendment to the functions of the Policy and Resources Committee and the delegation of those functions:

2.2.1 POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The mover and the seconder of the original motion indicated that they accepted this change to the motion.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote.

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:  That

1.  The Committee Structure Review report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Democracy Committee, be agreed subject to the amendment of references to the membership of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board to reflect the actual Borough Council membership (9 Councillors).

2.  The draft Constitutional Changes, attached as Appendix 3 to the report of the Democracy Committee, be agreed subject to:

  A.  The addition of the following:

2.2.6 LICENSING COMMITTEE

Membership: 13 Councillors

AND

B.  The following amendment to the functions of the Policy and Resources Committee and the delegation of those functions:

2.2.1 POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Note:  During consideration of the next agenda item (Report of the Democracy Committee proposing amendments to the terms of reference of the Planning Committee), a Member expressed concern that although he had indicated that he wished to speak on recommendation 10 of the Committee Structure Review report relating to report styles and, in particular, the proposal that the cross-cutting issues and implications section be included at the front of reports, he had not been given the opportunity to speak.  The Mayor apologised for his mistake in failing to call upon the Member to speak.

The Chief Executive confirmed that there was no facility for the Council to amend its earlier decision at this meeting, but Members might wish to reflect in due course on the effectiveness of the new arrangements.

As a consequence, an item will be included in the Democracy and General Purposes Committee Work Programme to review the effectiveness of the new arrangements in six months’ time.