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STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE |
6 JULY 2021 |
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Chairmanship of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee |
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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 Oliviya Parfitt, 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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To appoint the Vice-Chairman, or another Member of the Committee, as Chairman of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board (MJTB) for the Municipal Year 2021/22, as the Chairman of the Committee is automatically a Member of the Board in their capacity as a County Councillor.
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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1. That the Vice-Chairman of the Committee be appointed as the Chairman of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board for the 2021/22 Municipal Year. |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee |
6 July 2021 |
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Chairmanship of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board |
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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 |
The four Strategic Plan objectives are:
· Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure · Safe, Clean and Green · Homes and Communities · A Thriving Place
This report ensures that the Borough Council is following good governance arrangements to secure the above objectives. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Cross Cutting Objectives |
The four cross-cutting objectives are:
· Heritage is Respected · Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced · Deprivation is reduced and Social Mobility is Improved · Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected
This report ensures that the Borough Council is meeting these cross-cutting objectives through good governance arrangements.
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Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Risk Management |
See Section 5 of the report.
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Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Financial |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Staffing |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Legal |
· In accepting the recommendation, the committee must be satisfied that the appointment of the Vice Chair of the Joint Transportation Board (JTB) to the role of Chair of the JTB is in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution. Part 2, Section 2.2.2 of the Council Constitution states that the role of the Chair of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee is to chair the JTB with KCC in alternative years and to be Vice Chairman in others.
· Acting on the recommendations is within the Council’s powers as set out within Part 2 of the Constitution. |
Team Leader Corporate Governance Team |
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Privacy and Data Protection |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Equalities |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Public Health
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No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Crime and Disorder |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
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Procurement |
No impact identified. |
Democratic and Electoral Services Manager |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 The Membership of the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board (MJTB) is comprised of nine Borough Councillors, nine Kent County Councillors and two Parish Council representatives.
2.2 The Council’s Strategic Planning and Infrastructure (SPI) Committee and the Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport are the respective decision makers to which the MJTB can make recommendations and/or representations.
2.3 As per the Borough Council’s Constitution, part of the role of the Chairman of the SPI Committee is;
‘To chair the Joint Transportation Board with Kent County Council in alternate years and be Vice-Chairman in others’.
(This can be found in Part 2 – Responsibility for Functions, 2.2 Committees of the Council, of the Maidstone Borough Council Constitution).
2.4 At the 8 June 2021 meeting of the Committee, Councillor Paul Cooper was elected as Chairman for the 2021/22 Municipal Year; however, Councillor Cooper is automatically a Member of the MJTB due to his position as a County Councillor. However, the responsibility for Chairmanship for the current Municipal Year rests with the Borough Council.
2.5 Therefore, to avoid any perceived conflict of interest arising from a KCC appointed Member conducting an MBC role, it is recommended that the Chairmanship of the JTB be delegated to the Vice-Chairman.
2.6 As there is a cross-over between the functions of this Committee and the MJTB, the Vice-Chairman is the most appropriate choice for the delegation as they have responsibilities across both this Committee and the MJTB. For example, attending and being involved in the agenda setting process and briefing meetings for this Committee, and to act on behalf of the Chairman when necessary to fulfil the duties associated with and arising from Chairmanship of the Committee.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 Option 1 - Do nothing. Not recommended, as the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee is automatically a Member of the MJTB as a County Councillor. It would not be clear whether the Chairman was speaking as a Borough and/or County Member during meetings of the Board, which would be a conflict of interest.
3.2 Option 2 - Elect another Committee Member to become the Chairman of the MJTB. This is not the preferred option, for the reasons set out in 2.6.
3.3 Option 3 - The Vice-Chairman of the Committee be appointed as the Chairman of the MJTB for the 2021/22 Municipal Year. This is the preferred option, as set out in 2.6.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Option 3 is the preferred option, due to the reasons outlined in 3.3.
5. RISK
5.1 The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 Not applicable.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 Depending on the Committee’s agreement, the Member appointed as the Chairman of the MJTB will take office in that position at the 6 October 2021 meeting of the Board but will act in that capacity prior to that date for the purposes of administering the Board.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
None.
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
Maidstone Borough Council Constitution: