Contact your Parish Council
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Council |
19 July 2023 |
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Review of the Allocation of Seats on Committees |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Council |
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Lead Head of Service |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Ryan O’Connell, Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Classification |
Public |
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Wards affected |
All |
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Executive Summary |
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A review of the allocation of seats on committees has been undertaken due to a change in political groups.
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendation to Council: |
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1. That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix 1 to this report; and
2. That the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to membership of Committees be accepted. |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Council Meeting |
19 July 2023 |
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Review of the 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 and Electoral Services Manager |
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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 and Electoral Services Manager |
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Risk Management |
See section 5 below. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Financial |
The Committees appointed having regard to the political balance requirements form part of the agreed Leader and Cabinet model of governance and as such there are no additional financial implications. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Staffing |
There are no staffing implications. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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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 Team Leader (Contentious and Corporate Governance)
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Information Governance |
No personal information is provided as part of this report. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Equalities |
The review will ensure an equitable political representation in the membership of Committees. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Public Health |
No specific issues arise. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Crime and Disorder |
No specific issues arise. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Procurement |
No specific issues arise. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
No specific issues arise. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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 formation of a new Group, the composition of the Council is as follows:
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Conservative |
25 |
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Liberal Democrat |
12 |
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Green Independent Alliance |
6 |
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Independent |
6 |
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Labour |
4 |
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Fant and Oakwood Independents |
2 |
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Total |
55 |
2.2 This necessitates a review of the allocation of seats on Committees. The review must take into account the change in the composition of the Council and the basic principles of seat allocation prescribed by Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
2.3 Appendix 1 sets out the changes to committee places as a result of the formation of the Fant and Oakwood Independents Group and reduction in the size of the Labour Group. The Appendix sets out the outcome from the negotiation on seat adjustments between those two Groups and maintains overall political balance as required by the relevant Act.
2.4 Following the changes to Committee places some adjustment to Committee memberships will be required and the wishes of the Group Leaders should be accepted in this regard.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 The allocation of seats on individual Committees which achieves overall political balance and includes the outcome of negotiations between the relevant Groups is set out in Appendix 1.
3.2 The Council could consider and debate other allocations on Committees that achieve overall political balance or it could consider some Committee seat allocations that are not politically balanced as long as no Member votes against them.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
4.1 That the Council agree the Committee seat allocation at Appendix 1 as it maintains political balance and reflects the wishes of political groups.
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 no additional changes to Committee memberships have been requested beyond those outlined.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 The relevant Committee memberships will be put in place.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Review of Allocation of Seats on Committees
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None