MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING
23 MAY 2015
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF FINANCE AND RESOURCES
Report Prepared by Debbie Snook
1.1 Following the Borough Council elections on 7 May 2015, the composition of the Council is now as follows:
Conservative 25
Liberal Democrat 20
Independent 6
UKIP 2
Labour 2
Total 55
1.2 This necessitates a review of the allocation of seats on Committees. The review must take into account the new governance arrangements which will take effect at the Annual Meeting.
1.3 The allocation of seats on individual Committees, which achieves each Political Group’s overall entitlement, is set out in Appendix A.
1.4 The calculation assumes the following as previously agreed:
114 seats on Committees;
The Policy and Resources Committee and the Employment Committee comprising representatives of all five Political Groups (with a Political Group defined as consisting of two or more Members);
The Urgency Committee comprising the Leaders of all five Political Groups (not politically balanced); and
The Planning Referrals Committee comprising three Members, one from each of the largest three Political Groups (not politically balanced).
1.5 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.
It is proposed that the Urgency Committee and the Planning Referrals Committee only are not politically balanced as set out in paragraph 1.4 above.
1.6 RECOMMENDED:
That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix A to this report.