Agenda item

To receive nominations and elect a Chairman to each of the under-mentioned bodies.  In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Part 3, Sections 10 and 11, only non-Executive Members are entitled to vote on (a) and (b) below:

(a)         Overview and Scrutiny Committee - shall not be a member of the largest political group represented on Cabinet

(b)         Budget and Performance Panel - shall not be a member of the largest political group represented on Cabinet

(c)         Licensing Regulatory Committee

(d)         Licensing Act Committee

(e)         Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee

(f)           Personnel Committee

(g)         Appeals Committee

(h)         Audit Committee – may not be a Member of Cabinet or Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(i)            Appraisal Panel – may not be the Leader

(j)            Council Business Committee

(k)          Local Governance Committee 

With regard to Standards Committee, Council is requested to note the re-appointment of Mr. Stephen Lamley as Chairman for period of 3 years from March 2005.

The Mayor requested nominations for a Chairman for each of the Council’s Regulatory and Standing Committees and for the Overview and Scrutiny bodies.  She again reminded Members that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution only non-Executive Members were entitled to vote on the Chairmen proposed for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Budget and Performance Panel.

In relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee nominations were submitted for Councillors Peter Robinson and Stuart Langhorn.

On being put to the vote there were 12 votes for Councillor Robinson and many for Councillor Langhorn, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Langhorn Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In relation to the Budget and Performance Panel nominations were submitted for Councillors Jim Blakely and John Whitelegg.

On being put to the vote 36 Members voted for Councillor Blakely, whereupon the Mayor declared that this being a majority of the Council, Councillor Blakely was elected as Chairman of the Budget and Performance Panel.

In relation to the Licensing Regulatory Committee, there being only one nomination, the Mayor declared Councillor Tony Wade Chairman of the Licensing Regulatory Committee.

In relation to the Licensing Act Committee, there being only one nomination, the Mayor declared Councillor Joyce Taylor Chairman of the Licensing Act Committee.

In relation to the Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee nominations were received for Councillors Eileen Blamire, Keith Budden and Anne Chapman.

On being put to the vote there were 30 votes for Councillor Blamire, 15 for Councillor Budden and 12 for Councillor Chapman, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Blamire, with the majority of votes cast, Chairman of the Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee.

In relation to the Personnel Committee, nominations were submitted for Councillors Jean Dent and Susan Bray. 

On being put to the vote there were 27 votes for Councillor Dent and 29 for Councillor Bray, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Bray Chairman of the Personnel Committee.

In relation to the Appeals Committee nominations were submitted for Councillors Sheila Denwood and Shirley Burns.

On being put to the vote 30 Members voted for Councillor Denwood, whereupon the Mayor declared that this being a majority of those present, Councillor Denwood was elected as Chairman of the Appeals Committee.

In relation to the Audit Committee, nominations were submitted for Councillors Roger Dennison and Malcolm Thomas.

On being put to the vote there were 15 votes for Councillor Dennison and many for Councillor Thomas, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Thomas Chairman of the Audit Committee.

In relation to the Appraisal Panel, there being only one nomination, the Mayor declared Councillor Evelyn Archer Chairman of the Appraisal Panel.

In relation to the Council Business Committee nominations were submitted for Councillors Geoff Knight and Susan Bray.

On being put to the vote there were 27 votes for Councillor Knight and 28 for Councillor Bray, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Bray Chairman of the Council Business Committee.

In relation to the Local Governance Committee, nominations were submitted for Councillors John Gilbert, Chris Coates and Roger Mace.  On being put to the vote 18 Members voted for Councillor Gilbert, 23 for Councillor Coates and 12 for Councillor Mace. 

Since this did not represent a majority for the leading nomination the Mayor advised that a further vote would be taken, having discounted the nomination with the least votes, being Councillor Mace.  There were then 30 votes for Councillor Gilbert and 24 for Councillor Coates, whereupon the Mayor declared Councillor Gilbert Chairman of the Local Governance Committee.

In relation to the Standards Committee, Members were reminded that the appointment of the current Chairman, Mr Stephen Lamley had previously been extended for a period of 3 years ending in May 2008.

Resolved:-

That the following be appointed Chairmen of the undermentioned Committees for 2007/08: