ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

21 MAY 2016

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

Final Decision-Maker

Council

Lead Head of Service

Paul Riley, Head of Finance and Resources

Lead Officer and Report Author

Debbie Snook, Democratic Services Officer

Classification

Public

Wards affected

N/A

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to the Council:

1. That the calculation for entitlement to seats on individual Committees and the requisite adjustments as set out in Appendix A be determined.

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:  N/A

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Annual Council Meeting

21 May 2016



ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     In accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, to review the allocation of seats on Committees to the different Political Groups represented on the Council.

 

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     Following the Borough Council elections on 5 May 2016, the composition of the Council is as follows:

 

Conservative          23

Liberal Democrats   22

Independent             5

UKIP                         3

Labour                      2

 

Total                       55

 

2.2   This necessitates a review of the allocation of seats on Committees.  The review must take into account the governance arrangements which came into effect at the Annual Meeting in 2015, and are detailed in the Constitution.

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     The revised allocation of seats on individual Committees is set out in Appendix A, together with details of the adjustments required.

 

        The calculation assumes the following as previously agreed:

       

·           114 seats on Committees;

·           The Policy and Resources Committee comprising representatives of all five Political Groups (with a Political Group defined as consisting of two or more Members);

·           The Employment Committee including the Leaders of all five Political Groups (not politically balanced);

·           The Urgency Committee comprising the Leaders of all five Political Groups (not politically balanced); and

·           The Planning Referrals Committee comprising three Members, one from each of the largest Political Groups (not politically balanced).

 

3.2     Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides for exceptions to the political balance requirements.  Essentially, the Council can amend the political balance of a Committee provided that notice of the intention to give such consideration has been given to all Members of the Council and that when the alternative arrangements are put to the vote at the Council meeting, no Member of the Council votes against them.

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     It is proposed, following consultation with Group Leaders, that the Employment Committee, the Urgency Committee and the Planning Referrals Committee only are not politically balanced as set out in paragraph 3.1 above, and that the calculation for entitlement to seats on individual Committees and the requisite adjustments as set out in Appendix A be determined.

 

 

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1     The Group Leaders have been advised of the revised allocation of seats on Committees and of the adjustments required.

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     Once the allocation of seats has been decided upon, there is a duty to give effect to the allocation by making appointments to them in accordance with the wishes of the Group Leaders on behalf of their respective Political Groups.

 

 

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

There are no direct impacts on corporate priorities arising from this decision, but the Committees once appointed will discharge the functions delegated to them having regard where appropriate to the Council’s strategic objectives.

Head of Finance and Resources

Risk Management

The review of the allocation of seats on Committees will ensure an appropriate political balance in membership.

Head of Finance and Resources

Financial

The Committees to be appointed having regard to the political balance requirements form part of the original plan for the committee system of governance and as such there are no additional financial implications.

Head of Finance and Resources

Staffing

There are no staffing implications.

Head of Finance and Resources

Legal

The legal implications are set out in the body of the report.

Legal Team

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

There are no equality issues.

Policy & Information Manager

Environmental/Sustainable Development

There are no environmental/sustainable development implications.

Head of Service/ Manager

Community Safety

There are no community safety implications.

Head of Service/ Manager

Human Rights Act

There are no human rights implications.

Head of Service/ Manager

Procurement

There are no procurement implications.

Head of Finance and Resources

Asset Management

There are no asset management implications.

Head of Finance and Resources

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix  A – Allocation of Seats on Committees

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None