Agenda item

The Monitoring Officer advised that the mandatory review of the political proportionality showed that there was no change to the political proportionality figures but there was a needunder the agreed procedural rules to appoint to the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors to the Committees. It was noted that the Conservative group had advised that they did not propose to make any changes to their expressed nominations for the seats already allocated to their group on committees.

Questions were asked regarding reverse proportionality on Corporate Scrutiny and were advised that alternative arrangements would need to be proposed, and could only be implemented if there was no dissenting vote against from any councillor present.

A list of proposed Chairman and Vice Chairman had been provided to the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting.

The following positions were agreed by affirmation:

(i)             APPEALS COMMITTEE – Cllr Ian Dore (Chairman) Cllr Jonathan Bacon (Vice Chairman)

(ii)            APPOINTMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE – Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox (as Leader of the Council) Cllr Joe Robertson (Vice Chairman)

(iii)          AUDIT COMMITTEE – Cllr Andrew Garratt (Chairman) Cllr Michael Lilley (Vice Chairman)

(iv)          CORPORATE SCRUTINY – Cllr Chris Quirk (Vice Chairman)

(v)           HARBOUR COMMITTEE – Cllr Phil Jordan (as Cabinet Member for Infrastructure) Cllr Julie Jones-Evans (Vice Chairman)

(vi)          INVESTIGATING AND DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE – Cllr Debbie Andre (Chairman) Cllr Warren Drew (Vice Chairman)

(vii)         LICENSING COMMITTEE – Cllr Daryll Pitcher (Chairman) Cllr Steve Hastings (Vice Chairman)

(viii)       PENSION FUND COMMITTEE – Cllr Chris Jarman (Chairman) Cllr Andrew Garratt (Vice Chairman)

(ix)          PLANNING COMMITTEE – Cllr Warren Drew (Vice Chairman)

(x)           POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES – Cllr Richard Quigley (Chairman) Cllr Joe Lever (Vice Chairman)

(xi)          POLICY AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE - Cllr John Nicholson (Chairman) Cllr Michael Lilley (Vice Chairman)

Councillor Richard Quigley and Councillor Joe Robertson were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Corporate Scrutiny Committee following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor Richard Quigley be appointed Chairman of Corporate Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Warren Drew and Councillor John Medland were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Planning Committee following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor John Medland be appointed Chairman of Planning Committee.

Councillor Joe Lever and Councillor Michael Beston were separately moved and seconded for the position of Chairman for Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

THAT Councillor Joe Lever be appointed Chairman of Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration.

There was some further discussion regarding reverse proportionality for Corporate Scrutiny. It was explained that no single political group had a majority of seats overall on the council and seats had been and were currently allocated under the statutory political proportionality rules. It was advised that alternative arrangements could be proposed although there would need to be no dissenting vote from any councillor present to apply alternative proportionality to Committees. No alternative arrangements were proposed and agreed.

RESOLVED:

THAT the political proportionality review be approved.

THAT the appointments of committees and appointments of those persons to such committees (including chairs and vice-chairs) be approved as set out in Appendix 1 to this report (as agreed at the meeting).

THAT it be confirmed that the terms of reference of the Audit Committee includes consideration of proposals to revise the constitution, and that the constitution be so amended by the Monitoring Officer to make this clearer.

THAT the constitution be amended at Part 3 Section 12 (Statutory Officers and Proper Officers) to include explicit reference to the appointment of the Strategic Manager for Regulatory and Community Safety Services as the proper officer for the purpose of section 36 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (requirement to have a panel of persons in place as a channel panel), with delegated authority duly granted for such purposes to better support the annual assurance statement.

THAT the constitution be further reviewed this year, and a report brought back to a future meeting of the council.