Issue - meetings

This report asks Members to (a) note the revisions to the Council’s executive governance arrangements and (b) approve the creation of new Scrutiny Select Sub-Committees in light of the recommendations from the recent Peer Review by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the publication of the final recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).

As set out in detail in the report to Council dated 27 April 2022, theLeader resolvedto make the following changes to the Council’s adopted governance arrangements.  References to annexes below are references to the numbered annexes to the report to Council: 

(a)     changes to the Rules for making decisions by Executive Members as set out at Annex 5

(b)     changes to the Executive Procedure Rules at Annex 6

(c)     changes to Part 3 of the Constitution (Panels and Boards to advise the Executive) set out at Annex 7

(d)     the reduction of the financial threshold for Key Decisions from £250,000 to £100,000 as set out in Annex 4

(e)     the creation of 3 new Scrutiny Select Committees as set out at paragraph 1.3.6 of the report, each being programmed to meet on 5 occasions per municipal year and each containing 15 members

(f)       changes to the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out at Annex 3 and the terms of reference for the Scrutiny Select Committees at Annex 8

The arrangements set out above will come into effect on 10 May 2022.

[In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this decision was the subject of a call-in and was scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 5 May 2022.   Members of the Committee considered the grounds for the call-in and had regard to the responses provided by the Leader of the Council.  After in-depth discussion and a formal vote the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had no further recommendations to make to the Leader and the decision came into immediate effect.  The proposals in respect of governance would come into effect from 10 May 2022.]

The joint report of the Leader and the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of a number of revisions to the Council’s executive governance arrangements in light of the recommendations arising from the Peer Review by the Local Government Association.  Members were invited to Note the changes set out at section 1.7.1 (a) to (g) and to grant authority to the Monitoring Officer to make any consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution (1.7.1 (h) refers).

Councillor Oakley and Councillor Thornewell indicated that they wished to vote against noting 1.7.1 (a) to (g).  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.4 Councillor Clark requested that a recorded vote be undertaken in respect of 1.7.1 (a) to (g).  Item 1.7.1 (h) was dealt with as a separate matter.  The request was supported by Councillor Hood and the voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting For Noting (a) to (g) as set out at 1.7.1 of the report:

Cllr Mrs P Bates; Cllr R Betts; Cllr M Boughton; Cllr V Branson; Cllr C Brown; Cllr R Cannon; Cllr D Cooper; Cllr R Dalton; Cllr D Davis; Cllr M Davis; Cllr N Foyle; Cllr S Hammond; Cllr D Harman; Cllr A Keeley; Cllr Mrs A Kemp; Cllr A Kennedy; Cllr J Lark; Cllr P Montague; Cllr W Palmer; Cllr M Rhodes; Cllr H Rogers; Cllr J Sergison; Cllr K Tanner and Cllr M Taylor

Total = 24

Members voting Against Noting (a) to (g) as set out at 1.7.1 of the report:

Cllr T Bishop; Cllr P Boxall; Cllr G Bridge; Cllr A Clark; Cllr A Cope; Cllr P Hickmott; Cllr M Hood; Cllr F Hoskins; Cllr A Oakley; Cllr R Roud; Cllr T Shaw and Cllr D Thornewell

Total = 12

Members abstaining:

Cllr Mrs J Anderson and Cllr B Luker

Total = 2

(Total members eligible to vote = 38)

RESOLVED: That

(a)   the changes to the Rules for making decisions by Executive Members as set out at Annex 5 be noted;

(b)   the changes to the Executive Procedure Rules at Annex 6 be noted;

(c)   the changes to Part 3 of the Constitution (Panels and Boards to advise the Executive) set out at Annex 7 be noted;

(d)   the reduction of the financial threshold for Key Decisions from £250,000 to £100,000 as set out in Annex 4 be noted;

(e)   the creation of 3 new Scrutiny Select Committees as set out at paragraph 1.3.6 of the report, each being programmed to meet on 5 occasions per municipal year and each containing 15 members, be noted;

(f)     the changes to the Overview & Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out at Annex 3and the terms of reference for the Scrutiny Select Committees at Annex 8 be noted;

(g)   it be noted that the arrangements set out above would come into effect on 10May 2022; and

(h)   the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution to reflect the changes set out in the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32