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COUNCIL (ACTING AS CORPORATE TRUSTEE OF THE CHARITY KNOWN AS THE COBTREE MANOR ESTATE) MEETING

30 SEPTEMBER 2020

 

REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

Final Decision-Maker

Council

Lead Head of Service

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communications and Governance

Lead Officer and Report Author

Ryan O’Connell, Democratic and Electoral Services Manager

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

A review of the allocation of seats on Committees has been undertaken due to an additional vacancy and a change in Group membership.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Decision

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to Council Acting as Corporate Trustee of the Charity Known as the Cobtree Manor Estate:

 

1.       That it be noted that there is no impact on the seats on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee as a result of the review which has been undertaken; and

 

2.       That the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to membership of the Committee be accepted.

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Council Meeting

30 September 2020



REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

There are no direct impacts on corporate priorities arising from this, but the Committees when in place discharge the functions delegated to them having regard where appropriate to the Council’s strategic objectives.

Democratic Services Officer

Risk Management

See section 5 below.

Democratic Services Officer

Financial

The Committees appointed having regard to the political balance requirements form part of the 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.

Democratic Services Officer

Legal

The Council must allocate seats on Committees to the different political groups to reflect the size of each political group – section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Consideration should be given to the matters outlined in the legislation. It is possible to have Committees that are not politically balanced but in order for that to be allowed, no Member of the Council can vote against a motion proposing it.

Head of Mid-Kent Legal Services

Privacy and Data Protection

No specific issues arise.

Data Protection Officer

Equalities

The review will ensure an equitable political representation in membership of Committees.

Equalities and Corporate Policy Officer

Crime and Disorder

No specific issues arise.

Democratic Services Officer

Procurement

No specific issues arise.

Democratic Services Officer

Cross Cutting Objectives

No specific issues arise.

Democratic Services Officer

 

2.    INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1   The Council has a statutory requirement under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to ensure political proportionality in the membership of Committees.  As a result of the additional vacancy and change in Group membership, the composition of the Council is as follows:

       

Conservative

22

Liberal Democrat

21

Independent

4

Labour

4

Independent Maidstone

2

Total

53

 

2.2   There is no impact on the balance of either the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee or the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum Trust Committee as a result of the review of the allocation of seats on Committees.

 

 

3.    AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1   That the outcome of the review be noted and that the wishes of Group Leaders with regard to the membership of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee be accepted.

 

 

4.    PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

 

4.1   That the outcome of the review be noted and that the wishes of Group Leaders with regard to the membership of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee be accepted.

 

 

5.    RISK

 

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

 

 

 

6.    CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1   Group Leaders have been made aware of this report coming to Council and asked if they wish to make any changes to the membership of the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee.

 

 

7.    NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1   Membership of the Committee will be implemented immediately.

 

 

8.    REPORT APPENDICES

 

   None

 

 

9.    BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

        None