Agenda item

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Chairman asked for agreement to suspend Procedure Rule 15, to allow members to speak more than once on matters contained within the report. A vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Procedure Rule 15 be suspended for this item.

 

Members considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which included Committee proportionality, members allowances and member absences that exceeded six months.

 

Appointments to External Bodies and Political Proportionality

 

The Chairman proposed acceptance of the proposed appointments to External Bodies and political proportionality which was duly seconded.

 

A vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

      I.         THAT Council agreed to make the appointments contained in Appendix B of the Monitoring Officers report.

 

    II.         THAT Council agreed the representation of different political groups on committees and sub committees contained in the revised Appendix C of the Monitoring Officers report.

 

Member’s Allowance Scheme

 

There was some discussion regarding the proposed 2.75% increase some members felt it was inappropriate to accept the increase given the current circumstances. It was noted that members had a choice if they accepted an allowance for the work they did as a councillor and that there was a need to attract people to stand as a councillor. Work as a councillor had not stopped during the pandemic.

 

An amendment to the proposal was moved and duly seconded.

 

THAT the members allowances for 2020/21 be frozen and the 2.75% not be applied to member allowances.

 

A vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the amendment fell.

 

A vote was taken on the substantive motion the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Member’s Allowance Scheme for the years 2019/20 and 2020/21 contained in Appendix D of the Monitoring Officers report be adopted.

 

Approval of member absences that exceed six months

 

Concerns were raised about automatically extending the period of absence if a Councillor is unable to attend meetings. Members felt this should be reviewed on a case by case basis as it could set a precedent.

 

A vote was taken the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the recommendation in the Monitoring Officers report, not be adopted.

 

Appointment of Chairman to Committees and Sub Committees

 

The Leader had provided a list of proposed appointments to Committees and sub committees which had been circulated to all members, he proposed that the list be voted on en bloc with the exception of the appointment of the Corporate Scrutiny Chairman, this was duly seconded.

 

The following alternative nominations were made and duly seconded:

 

Audit Committee – Councillor Reg Barry

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills – Councillor Debbie Andre

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care and Health – Councillor Michael Lilley

Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and regeneration – Councillor John Medland.

 

Councillors, Andre, Lilley and Medland duly declined the nominations.

 

A vote was taken to appoint Chairmen en bloc with the exception of Audit Committee and Corporate Scrutiny Chairman the result of which was as follows:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the appointment of chairman contained within the Leader’s proposed list (attached to and forming part of these minutes) be taken en bloc with the exception of Audit Committee and Corporate Scrutiny.

 

Nominations were then taken for the appointment of the Chairman for Audit Committee. Councillors Adrian Axford and Reg Barry were moved and duly seconded. Councillor Axford declined the nomination, and following the vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Councillor Reg Barry be elected as Chairman for Audit Committee for the ensuing year.

 

Nominations were taken for the appointment of the Chairman for Corporate Scrutiny. Councillors Richard Hollis, Karl Love and Michael Lilley were moved and seconded.

 

It was noted that if the majority did not exceed 50 per cent of members then the person with the least number of votes would be eliminated and the vote for the remaining two candidates would be taken again, the results of the first vote was:

 

Councillor Hollis (18)

Councillor Lilley (12)

Councillor Love (5)

 

As there was no clear majority a second vote between Councillors Hollis and Lilley was taken, the result of the vote was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT Councillor Richard Hollis be elected as Chairman of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee for the ensuing year.