MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING

18 MAY 2011

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC SERVICES

Report Prepared by Neil Harris

1.         ALLOCATION OF SEATS ON COMMITTEES

1.1            Notification has been received of a change in the size of the Political Groups on the Council.  This therefore necessitates a review of the allocation of seats on Committees.

1.1.1        The Constitution of the 3 Political Groups is now as follows:

Conservatives                   30
Liberal Democrat               21
Independent                       4
                                      __

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1.1.2        The allocation on individual Committees is set out in Appendix A, whilst Appendix B demonstrates the political balance on the various Committee sizes.

1.1.3        The allocation of seats to the Standard Committee has not been included in Appendix A because it does not need to reflect the political balance of the Authority.  However, the Committee does have 6 Borough Council representatives and the political balance for 6 is 3 Conservatives, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 Independent. Last year the representation was 3 Conservatives, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 Independent.

1.1.3     Section 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides for exceptions to the Political balance requirements.  In essence 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 Committee and when the alternative arrangements are put to the vote at the Council, no members of the Council votes against them.

1.2                RECOMMENDED

1.2.1          That the calculation for entitlement on individual Committees and the requisite adjustments as set out in Appendix A be determined.

1.2.2          That the Council determines the number of seats to be allocated to each Political Group on the Standards Committee.