Contact your Parish Council
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COUNCIL MEETING |
8 December 2021 |
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REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Council |
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Lead Head of Service |
Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Ryan O’Connell, Democratic and Electoral Services Manager Debbie Snook, Democratic Services Officer |
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Classification |
Public |
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Wards affected |
All |
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Executive Summary |
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Following the recent changes in the composition of the Council, a review has been undertaken of the allocation of seats on Committees. The Council is asked to agree that the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix 1 to this report and that the wishes of the Group Leaders regarding the membership of Committees be accepted.
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendations to Council: |
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1. That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix 1 to this report. 2. That the wishes of the Group Leaders regarding the membership of Committees be accepted. |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Council Meeting |
8 December 2021 |
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REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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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 |
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Cross-Cutting Objectives |
There are no direct impacts on cross-cutting objectives arising from this, but the Committees when in place discharge the functions delegated to them having regard where appropriate to the Council’s cross-cutting objectives. |
Democratic Services Officer |
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Risk Management |
See section 5 below. |
Democratic Services Officer |
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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 |
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Staffing |
There are no staffing implications. |
Democratic Services Officer |
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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. It is possible to have Committees that are not politically balanced provided that when alternative arrangements are put to the vote, no Member of the Council votes against them. The appointments to the Committees should reflect the wishes of the political groups – Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 (as amended). |
Interim Deputy Head of Legal Partnership and Monitoring Officer |
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Privacy and Data Protection |
No specific issues arise. |
Corporate Insight, Communities and Governance Team |
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Equalities |
The review will ensure an equitable political representation in the membership of Committees. |
Equalities and Communities Officer |
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Public Health |
No specific issues arise. |
Democratic Services Officer |
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Crime and Disorder |
No specific issues arise.
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Democratic Services Officer |
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Procurement |
No specific issues arise.
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Democratic Services Officer |
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
No specific issues arise.
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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. Following the establishment of The Maidstone Group and the decision of Councillor McKay to resign from the Labour Group and to sit as an unaligned Independent Member, the composition of the Council is as follows:
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Conservative |
29 |
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Liberal Democrat |
12 |
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Independent |
5 |
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The Maidstone Group |
5 |
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Labour |
3 |
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Cllr McKay (Unaligned Independent Member) |
1 |
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Total |
55 |
2.2 A review has been undertaken of the allocation of seats on Committees taking into account the change in the composition of the Council and having regard to the basic principles of seat allocation prescribed by Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 The allocation of seats on individual Committees which achieves overall political balance is set out in Appendix 1.
3.2 Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides for exceptions to the political balance requirements. Essentially, the Council can amend the political balance of a Committee provided that notice of the intention to give such consideration has been given to all Members of the Council and that when the alternative arrangements are put to the vote at the Council meeting, no Member of the Council votes against them.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
4.1 Following consultation with Group Leaders, it is proposed that the allocation of seats on individual Committees, which achieves overall political balance, be as set out in Appendix 1.
5. RISK
5.1 The
review of the allocation of seats on Committees will ensure an appropriate
political balance in the membership of Committees. The prompt and correct
allocation of seats on Committees is vital to maintaining an effective and
transparent governance framework.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 Group Leaders have been consulted on the allocation of seats on Committees and the adjustments required.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 Once the allocation of seats has been decided upon, there is a duty to give effect to the allocation by making appointments to them in accordance with the wishes of the Group Leaders on behalf of their respective Political Groups.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Review of Allocation of Seats on Committees
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None