Contact your Parish Council
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