Council and councillors

To receive Report No. 69/2023 from the Strategic Director for Law and Governance.

Report No. 69/2023 was introduced by Councillor G Waller, Leader of the Council, the report set out a number of decisions for Council to determine related to political balance and appointments to Committees. It was noted appendices had been circulated via an agenda supplement containing the political balance calculations, allocations of seats on Committees to political groups, and nominations of political groups to those seats.

It was noted that following publication of Appendix B the Liberal Democrat and Green group had decided to gift two seats to non-aligned Councillor T Carr from their allocations on the Conduct Committee and the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee respectively.

A motion to approve the first four and sixth recommendations was moved by Councillor G Waller and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 27 votes in favour the motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLVED

That Council:

a)    APPROVED the political balance calculation the Council should adopt for 2023/24 contained within Appendix A.

b)    APPROVED the subsequent allocation of seats on Committees to Political Groups, as determined by the vote on political balance calculation, as set out in Appendix B.

c)    NOTED the political group nominations for membership of the Council’s Committees as set out in Appendix B.

d)    AUTHORISED the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee to co-opt five Members on education matters only, in accordance with the Constitution and the Local Government Act 2000.

e)    NOTED that the Portfolio Holders with responsibility for health and children’s services were automatically the appointed Members to the Health and Wellbeing Board, with the former assuming the role of Chair.

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The Chairman then explained that he would invite nominations for the position of Chair for each Committee in turn. Nominations were first invited for the position of Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

A motion to appoint Councillor K Payne was moved by Councillor R Powell and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 27 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor K Payne be APPOINTED as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.

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Nominations were then invited for the position of Chair of the Conduct Committee. 

A motion to appoint Councillor O Hemsley was moved by Councillor R Powell and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 27 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor O Hemsley be APPOINTED as Chair of the Conduct Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.

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Nominations were then invited for the position of Chair of the Constitution Commission. 

A motion to appoint Councillor O Hemsley was moved by Councillor D Wilby and seconded and a motion to appoint Councillor G Waller was moved by Councillor P Browne and seconded. Both Councillors were provided with the opportunity to set out their suitability for the role and intentions should they be appointed.

Upon being put to the vote, with 12 votes in favour of Councillor Hemsley and 15 in favour of Councillor Waller, Councillor Waller was duly appointed.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor G Waller be APPOINTED as Chair of the Constitution Commission for the 2023-24 municipal year

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Nominations were then invited for the position of Chair of the Employment and Appeals Committee. 

A motion to appoint Councillor S Harvey was moved by Councillor R Powell and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 27 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor S Harvey be APPOINTED as Chair of the Employment and Appeals Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.

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Nominations were then invited for the position of Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee. 

A motion to appoint Councillor N Begy was moved by Councillor G Waller and seconded. Upon being put to the vote, with 27 votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor N Begy be APPOINTED as Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.

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Nominations were then invited for the position of Chair of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

A motion to appoint Councillor L Stephenson was moved by Councillor R Powell and seconded and a motion to appoint Councillor R Ross was moved by Councillor S McRobb and seconded. Both Councillors were provided with the opportunity to set out their suitability for the role and intentions should they be appointed.

Upon being put to the vote, with 15 votes in favour of Councillor R Ross and 12 in favour of Councillor L Stephenson, Councillor Ross was duly appointed.

RESOLVED

a)    That Councillor R Ross be APPOINTED as Chair of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2023-24 municipal year.