ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

20 May 2017

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

Yes

 

REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

Final Decision-Maker

Council

Lead Head of Service

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy and Communications

Lead Officer and Report Author

Debbie Snook, Democratic Services Officer

Classification

Public

Wards affected

N/A

 

 

This report makes the following recommendation to the Council:

1. That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix A to this report.

 

 

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

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Annual Meeting of the Council

20 May 2017

 

 



REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     To review the allocation of seats on Committees to the different Political Groups represented on the Council pursuant to Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

 

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     Following the Bearsted by-election on 4 May 2017, the composition of the Council is as follows:

 

Conservative          23

Liberal Democrats   22

Independent             4

UKIP                         4

Labour                      2

 

Total                       55

 

2.2     Applying each Political Group’s proportion of the overall number of seats and rounding to the nearest whole number does not give an exact fit with the number of seats on each Committee, and there are six seats which need to be allocated between the UKIP, Independent and Labour Groups in the proportion 2:2:1.  As this ratio does not give an exact fit with the six vacancies, agreement has been reached amongst the relevant Group Leaders on the allocation of these seats.

 

2.3     The Constitution requires the Planning Referrals Committee to comprise three Councillors, one from each of the three largest Political Groups.  As there is a tie for the position of the third largest Group, it is proposed, following consultation with the relevant Group Leaders, that the Independent Group should take the third seat on the Planning Referrals Committee.

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     The allocation of seats on individual Committees, which achieves each Political Group’s overall entitlement, is set out in Appendix A.  The calculation assumes the following:

 

·           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, with the third seat subject to consultation between the two relevant Group Leaders (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 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 allocation of seats on individual Committees, which achieves each Political Group’s overall entitlement, be as set out in Appendix A.

 

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1   Group Leaders have been consulted on the allocation of seats on Committees and 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 Policy & Communications

Risk Management

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

Head of Policy & Communications

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.

Section 151 Officer

Staffing

There are no staffing implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Legal

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

Interim Head of Legal Partnership

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

There are no equality issues.

Policy & Information Manager

Environmental/Sustainable Development

There are no environmental/sustainable development implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Community Safety

There are no community safety implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Human Rights Act

There are no human rights implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Procurement

There are no procurement implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Asset Management

There are no asset management implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following document is to be published with this report and forms part of the report:

·         Appendix A – Allocation of Seats on Committees

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None