Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 15^th October 2020 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2020 were accepted as a correct record. It was noted that these would be signed by the Chair when a paper copy was available.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services.

The Head of Democratic Services introduced the report, which was to enable the Committee to consider making a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBCE) on Council size as part of the Commission’s electoral review of the City Council. The submission would be made on behalf of the Council, authority having been delegated to the Committee for this at the Council meeting held on 30 September 2020. A draft submission had been prepared and circulated with the agenda. The LGBCE’s consultation on Council size would be the first part of the review process and would be followed by consultation on a warding pattern for the district.

The draft consultation response, written on the template supplied by the LGBCE, gave a rationale for no change in Council size, on the basis that there had been no significant change in governance arrangements since the Commission’s last review, which was implemented in May 2015. The Head of Democratic Services emphasised that the LGBCE would also welcome submissions from individual Councillors and political groups.

Councillor Clifford proposed:

“That the draft consultation response be approved and submitted to the LGBCE.”

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Boyd-Power and was agreed unanimously when put to the vote.

Resolved unanimously:

That the draft consultation response be approved and submitted to the LGBCE.