MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL ACTING AS CORPORATE TRUSTEE OF THE CHARITY KNOWN AS THE COBTREE MANOR ESTATE

20 MAY 2017

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON THE COBTREE MANOR ESTATE CHARITY COMMITTEE

 

Final Decision-Maker

Maidstone Borough Council acting as Corporate  Trustee of the Charity Known as the Cobtree Manor Estate

Lead Head of Service

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy and Communications

Lead Officer and Report Author

Debbie Snook, Democratic Services Officer

Classification

Public

Wards affected

N/A

 

 

This report makes the following recommendation to the Council:

1.   That the allocation of seats on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee as set out below be approved:

Conservative

2

Liberal Democrats

2

Independent

1

UKIP

0

Labour

0

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities: N/A

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Maidstone Borough Council Acting as Corporate Trustee of the Charity Known as the Cobtree Manor Estate

20 May 2017



REVIEW OF ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON THE COBTREE MANOR ESTATE CHARITY COMMITTEE

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     To review the representation of the different Political Groups on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee pursuant to Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

 

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     It is the duty of the Council when acting as Corporate Trustee of the Charity Known as the Cobtree Manor Estate to review the representation of the different Political Groups on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee.

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     The Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee and the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum Trust Committee both comprise five Members.  The Conservative and Liberal Democrats Groups are entitled to two Members each on each Committee and the Independent and UKIP Groups are entitled to one Member each in total between the two Committees.  The Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee has indicated that it wishes to retain the same membership as last year, for continuity purposes.  Following consultation with the relevant Group Leaders, it is proposed that the Independent Group should take the fifth seat on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee and the UKIP Group should take the fifth seat on the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum Trust Committee.

 

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 RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     It is proposed, following consultation with the relevant Group Leaders, that the allocation of seats on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee be as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservative

2

Liberal Democrats

2

Independent

1

UKIP

0

Labour

0

 

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1    The relevant Group Leaders have been consulted on the allocation of seats on the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee, and their views have been taken into account in the proposed allocation.

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     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.

 

 

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

N/A

Head of Policy & Communications

Risk Management

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

Head of Policy & Communications

Financial

The Committee forms part of the original 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.

Head of Policy & Communications

Legal

The legal implications are set out in the body of the report.

 

Interim Head of Legal Partnership

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

There are no equality issues.

Policy & Information Manager

Environmental/Sustainable Development

There are no environmental/sustainable development implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Community Safety

There are no community safety implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Human Rights Act

There are no human rights implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Procurement

There are no procurement implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

Asset Management

There are no asset management implications.

Head of Policy & Communications

 

 

8.    BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None