Agenda item

Political Group Regulations - Committee Seats Review and Appointments to Committees; and 2023/24 Schedule of Meetings

To confirm:

a) In accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, Committee Seats Review and Appointments to Committees; and

b) To agree the 2023/24 Schedule of Meetings

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) which sought to confirm: a) in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, Committee Seats Review and Appointments to Committees; and b) To agree the 2023/24 Schedule of Meetings.

The Assistant Director – Governance (Monitoring Officer) introduced the report stating that the Council was due to appoint to committees until the Annual Council meeting after the District Council Election in 2027.

Proposals for membership of Committees and Panels (and Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen where indicated) are detailed below:

Planning Committee

Constitution: 15 members to be appointed in accordance with political group regulations (8 Conservative seats, 7 Independent seats).
Cllr J Avery (Con) (Chairman)	Cllr B Alcock (Ind)
Cllr A Beal (Con) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr D Ashby (Ind)
Cllr H Bingham (Con)	Cllr P Barnes (Ind)
Cllr P Redgate (Con)	Cllr C Brewis (Ind)
Cllr G Taylor (Con)	Cllr S Hutchinson (Ind)
Cllr J Tyrrell (Con)	Cllr T Sneath (Ind)
Cllr J Whitbourn (Con)	Cllr A Tennant (Ind)
Cllr A Woolf (Con)

Governance and Audit Committee

Constitution: 7 non-cabinet members (excluding the Chairman of the Council), to be appointed in accordance with the political group regulations (4 Conservative seats, 3 Independent seats).
Cllr A Beal (Chairman)	Cllr B Boulding (Ind)
Cllr S-A Slade (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr C Brewis (Ind)
Cllr N Chapman (Con)	Cllr M Le Sage (Ind)
Cllr M Geaney (Con)

Performance Monitoring Panel

Constitution: 15 members to be appointed in accordance with political group regulations (No Cabinet members may be appointed. Appointments must be made in accordance with political group regulations. Note: Executive Support Members are prohibited from being appointed to the Performance Monitoring Panel. (8 Conservative seats, 7 Independent seats).
Cllr B Alcock (Ind) (Chairman)	Cllr J Whitbourn (Con)
Cllr M Booth (Ind) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr A Woolf (Con)
Cllr N Chapman (Con)	Cllr P Barnes (Ind)
Cllr L Eldridge (Con)	Cllr C Brewis (Ind)
Cllr M Geaney (Con)	Cllr S Chauhan (Ind)
Cllr A Harrison (Con)	Cllr S Hutchinson (Ind)
Cllr J Reynolds (Con)	Cllr D Wilkinson (Ind)
Cllr S-A Slade (Con)

Policy Development Panel

Constitution: 16 members to be appointed in accordance with political group regulations (9 Conservative seats, 7 Independent seats).
Cllr A Woolf (Con) (Chairman)	Cllr J Whitbourn
Cllr L Eldridge (Con) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr D Ashby (Ind)
Cllr J Avery (Con)	Cllr S Chauhan (Ind)
Cllr A Beal (Con)	Cllr M Hasan (Ind)
Cllr N Chapman (Con)	Cllr J Le Sage (Ind)
Cllr M Geaney (Con)	Cllr M Le Sage (Ind)
Cllr J Reynolds (Con)	Cllr I Sheard (Ind)
Cllr S-A Slade (Con)	Cllr T Sneath (Ind)

Licensing Committee and Committee of the Licensing Authority

Constitution: 15 members, appointed in accordance with political group regulations (8 Conservative seats, 7 Independent seats)
Cllr A Harrison (Con) (Chairman)	Cllr D Ashby (Ind)
Cllr J Tyrrell (Con) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr M Booth (Ind)
Cllr A Beal (Con)	Cllr R Gibson (Ind)
Cllr H Bingham (Con)	Cllr M Hasan (Ind)
Cllr A Casson (Con)	Cllr J King (Ind)
Cllr N Chapman (Con)	Cllr I Sheard (Ind)
Cllr M Geaney (Con)	Cllr A Spencer (Ind)
Cllr J Whitbourn (Con)

Chief Officer Employment Panel

Constitution: 3 members, appointed in accordance with political group regulations, to include at least one Cabinet member (2 Conservative seats, 1 Independent seat) 3 named members may act as substitute
Cllr N Worth (Con)	Cllr R Gibson (Ind)
Cllr T Carter (Con)
Substitute – (Con) not appointed	Substitute – (Ind) not appointed)
Substitute – (Con) not appointed

Chief Officer Employment Appeals Panel

Constitution: 3 members, appointed in accordance with political group regulations, to include at least one Cabinet member (2 Conservative seats, 1 Independent seat)
Cllr J Astill (Con)	Cllr J King (Ind)
Cllr P Redgate (Con)

Shared Memorandum of Agreement Committee

Constitution: 6 members (3 South Holland and 3 Breckland members), appointed in accordance with political group regulations, to include at least one Cabinet member from each authority (2 Conservative seats, 1 Independent seat)
Cllr P Redgate (Con)	Cllr R Gibson (Ind)
Cllr G Taylor (Con)
Substitute – (Con) not appointed	Substitute – (Ind) not appointed
Substitute – (Con) not appointed

Standards Panel

Constitution: 6 members, not appointed in accordance with political group regulations:
Cllr J Astill (Con) (Chairman)	Cllr B Alcock (Ind)
Cllr E Sneath (Con) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr J King (Ind)
Cllr S-A Slade (Con)	Cllr D Wilkinson (Ind)

Appeals Panel

Constitution: 4 members who shall not be appointed in accordance with the political group regulations.
Cllr P Redate (Con) (Chairman)	Cllr M Booth (Ind)
Cllr H Bingham (Con) (Vice-Chairman)	Cllr D Wilkinson (Ind)

Settlements Agreements Sub Committee

Constitution: 4 members who shall not be appointed in accordance with the political group regulations.
Cllr T Carter (Con)	Cllr M Hasan (Ind)
Cllr N Worth (Con)	Cllr D Wilkinson (Ind)

Independent Panel

Constitution: 3 members to comprise of the Independent Person appointed by SHDC, BBC and ELDC, pursuant to s28(7)of the Localism Act 2011
Mike Sofianos (SHDC Independent Person)	Boston Independent Person
ELDC Independent Person

Spalding Town Forum

11 Councillors elected to Spalding wards.
Cllr D Ashby (IND)	Cllr M Le Sage (IND)
Cllr B Boulding (IND)	Cllr I Sheard (IND)
Cllr S Chauhan (IND)	Cllr A Spencer (IND)
Cllr R Gibson (IND)	Cllr G Taylor (CON)
Cllr M Hasan(IND)	Cllr J Whitbourn (CON)
Cllr J Le Sage (IND)	Chairman and Vice-Chairman to be appointed at first meeting

Councillor Development Working Group

7 Councillors reflecting cross party membership
Cllr T Carter (Con)	Cllr G Taylor (Con)
Cllr N Chapman (Con)	Cllr C Brewis (Ind)
Cllr P Redgate (Con)	Cllr R Gibson (Ind)
Cllr S-A Slade (Con)	Chairman and Vice-Chairman to be appointed at first meeting

In relation to the Schedule of Meetings, members commented that it appeared that there were fewer meetings of the Performance Monitoring Panel over the year and questioned whether further meetings could be held if necessary? It was confirmed that additional meetings could be held where they were required.

DECISION:

1) That the following Committees be appointed in accordance with political group regulations:

Planning Committee;
Governance and Audit Committee;
Performance Monitoring Panel;
Policy Development Panel;
Licensing Committee;
Committee of the Licensing Authority;
Chief Officer Employment Panel;
Chief Officer Employment Appeals Panel;
Shared Memorandum of Agreement Committee;

2) That the following Committees be appointed without being politically balanced:

Standards Panel;
Appeals Panel;
Settlements Agreements Sub-Committee;
Independent Panel;

3) That the Council appoints for 2023 – 2027 the Committees and Panels listed in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.12 and 3.2 to 3.3 of the report (and as detailed above);

4) That the Council appoints the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen for Committees listed in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.5 and 2.9 to 2.10 of the report (and as detailed above);

5) That the Councillor Development Working Group be re-appointed to, reflecting cross party membership;

6) That the Council approve Council meeting dates and notes the proposed dates for Cabinet and Committee meetings for the Council Municipal Year 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A; and

7) That delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman to amend or cancel meeting dates as necessary, subject to compliance with any constitutional requirements where an agenda has already been published.

Supporting documents: