Issue - meetings

To confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, amended Political Balance calculations (report of the Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development and S151 Officer enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate Development and Section 151 Officer, which asked members to confirm, in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, amended Political Balance calculations.

On 1 October 2021, Councillor Bingham joined the Conservative Group, and a review of political group seats was therefore required to be undertaken as soon as practicable.

Calculations for allocation of appointments for the Conservative Group, Independent Group and non-aligned were detailed within the report, the main points being as follows:

Calculation of total allocation of seats across all committees and sub-committees to which the Political Regulations applied, provided:

·         The Conservative Group was entitled to 60 seats.  The calculation of seat allocations at individual committee level resulted in a figure of 61, due to rounding up and rounding down.  However, the overall calculation (of 60 seats) had to take precedence;

·         The Independent Group was entitled to 30 seats.  This figure was consistent with the calculation of allocation of seats at individual committee level;

·         Two seats remained unallocated after the Conservative Group and Independent Group allocations.  Under Regulation 16(3), these ‘spare’ seats are allocated to non-aligned members (i.e. Councillor McLean).  At the individual committee level, the calculation resulted in the non-aligned member being entitled to only one seat.  However, the overall calculation (of 2 seats) had to take precedence;

·         As a result of the above, it would be necessary to allocate one Conservative seat (as calculated at committee level) to the non-aligned member.

Political Group calculations were included in Appendix A to the report, and are detailed below:

*Currently one vacancy seat on Governance and Audit Committee  ** Total seat calculations take precedence

DECISION:

1)    That, subject to (2) below, the Council agree changes to the political balance of Committees in accordance with Appendix A; and

2)    That as a result of calculations for the allocation of seats for each Committee and Sub-Committee to which the Political Group Regulations applied resulting in one more Conservative seat than the Group was entitled to, one seat (on the Performance Monitoring Panel), which would otherwise be allocated to the Conservative Group, be allocated to the non-aligned member.