Agenda item

(a)     Committees for 2014/2015

 

(b)     The Allocation of Seats on Committees Between Political Groups and the Appointment of Members to Committees

 

(c)     The Appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees

The Chief Executive submitted a report which detailed the following:

 

A.   Committees for 2014-2015

 

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Council was requested to appoint the Committees as indicated in Annex A as presented to the Council by the Chief Executive.

 

B.   The allocation of seats on Committees between political groups and the appointment of Members to Committees

 

       Ryedale District Council was to be treated as being divided into different political groups for the purposes of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989, because at least one political group had been constituted in the prescribed way.

 

       The Local Government & Housing Act 1989 required the distribution of seats on committees and sub-committees to be on the basis of political proportionality so far as ‘reasonably practicable’ unless different provision is made in such manner prescribed by regulations and without any Member voting against them.

 

The terms of reference of the Policy and Resources Committee, Licensing Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committee were those as set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.

 

       Members considered the recommendations in the report.

 

       The recommendations 1-5 and 7-9 were moved and seconded en bloc, as follows:

 

       Recommendation 1

 

That the Council appoints those Committees indicated at Annex A of the report.

      

       Recommendation 2

 

That the size of the Committees is that specified in Annex A of the report.

 

       Recommendation 3

 

That the Council divides Committee seats between political groups in accordance with the allocation shown at the attached Annex A of the report with the Liberal Group indicating that they wish to take 2 seats on the Policy and Resources Committee and 1 seat on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the ungrouped member taking the unallocated seat on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Recommendation 4

 

Membership of the Committees to be that shown on the revised Annex B of the report (circulated at the meeting) with the addition of nominations circulated from the Liberal group.

 

Recommendation 5

 

That the membership of the Licensing Committee be the same Members as appointed to the Planning Committee.

 

Recommendation 7

 

That the terms of reference of the Policy and Resources Committee, Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Planning Committee and the Scheme of Officer Delegation are those set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution as amended to reflect the changes in the political management system agreed at Council on 31 October 2013. 

 

Recommendation 8

 

That the Resources Working Party be established by Council, to enable it to meet on the 5 June 2014, with a membership of 10 with political proportionality, therefore, 6 Conservative Members, 2 Liberal Members, 1 Liberal Democrat Member and 1 Independent Member and nominated substitutes.  The minutes of the Resources Working Party meeting on 5 June 2014 be reported to the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 19 June 2014.  Subject to approval, groups are asked to nominate for this Working Party, with substitutes.

 

Councillor Ives proposed and Councillor Clark seconded the following amendment;

 

That the membership of the Resources Working Party be the same as last year until the first meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee

 

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was carried unanimously.

 

Recommendation 9

 

That the Chief Executive be authorised to make consequential amendments to the Constitution arising from the changes referred to above.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

 

Recommendation 6

           

With reference to recommendation (6) of the report, Members were reminded that the Annual Meeting of Council elected the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees, with the exception of the Licensing Committee.

 

It was recommended that the Licensing Committee appoint its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman at its next meeting.

 

Nominations were then sought for the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees.

 

Resolved

 

(a)  That the Council appoints those Committees indicated at Annex A of the report previously circulated;

 

(b)  That the size of Committees be as specified at Annex A of the report previously circulated;

 

(c)   That the Council divides Committee seats between political groups as set out in Annex A of the report previously circulated with the Liberal Group indicating that they with to take two seats on the Policy and Resources Committee and one seat on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the ungrouped member taking the unallocated seat on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

 

(d)  That membership of Committees be as indicated at Annex A to these minutes;

 

(e)That the membership of the Licensing Committee be the same Members as appointed to the Planning Committee;

 

             (f)    That, with the exception of the Licensing Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman, who were to be appointed at the next Committee meeting, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees be appointed as follows:

 

                    Policy and Resources Committee

 

                   (i)      Chairman                     Councillor Mrs L Cowling

                   (ii)      Vice-Chairman           Councillor S Arnold

 

                    Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

                    (i)      Chairman                     Councillor C R Wainwright

                    (ii)     Vice-Chairman            Councillor Mrs Shields

 

                    Planning Committee

 

                    (i)      Chairman                     Councillor J Windress

                    (ii)     Vice-Chairman            Councillor Mrs Frank

 

            (g)  That the terms of reference of the Policy and Resources Committee, Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Planning Committee and the Scheme of Officer Delegation be those as set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution;

           

(h)   That the membership of the Resources Working Party be the same as last year until the first meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee;

 

(i)    That the Chief Executive be authorised to make consequential amendments to the Constitution arising from the changes referred to above.