Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive presented a report which set out the calculation in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Part 4 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, which had been carried out following the protocol previously agreed by Council.

The Chief Officer (Governance) responded to questions from Councillors.

Councillor Brookes, seconded by Councillor Newman-Thompson, proposed:

“(1)   That the constitution of the Licensing Act Committee, which is not required to be subject to the political balance requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, be confirmed as currently established.

(2)        That in undertaking the PR calculations on the Council’s Committees the Council’s agreed protocol be confirmed, utilising the following groupings:

·             Overview and Scrutiny (2 x 9)

·             Regulatory and timetabled Committees of Council (2 x 15 (Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee and Licensing Act Committee), 1 x 9 (Licensing Regulatory) and 2 x 7 (Personnel and Audit)

·             Remaining Standing and Joint Committees to be calculated separately and individually.

(3)     That pursuant to Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989, the City Council allocates the seats on Overview & Scrutiny, Regulatory, Standing and Joint Committees in accordance with the calculations set out in paragraph 5 of the report.

(4)     That Council notes that the allocation of seats referred to in (4) above is subject to review from time to time in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989 and Part 4 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations, 1990.”

Councillor Peter Williamson, seconded by Councillor Mace, proposed an amendment:

“That recommendations 2 and 3 on page 17 of the agenda be amended as necessary to require that in undertaking the PR calculations on the Council's Committees, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Budget and Performance Panel be calculated separately and individually to produce the result for each as is set out in paragraph 5.2.1 of the report.”

Debate on the amendment followed, after which Councillor Peter Williamson requested a recorded vote in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.

The votes were recorded as follows:-

For the amendment: Councillors Bateson, Charles, Cooper, Edwards, Gardiner, Goodrich, Helme, Joan Jackson, Leadbetter, Mace, Parkinson, Rogerson, Sykes, Thomas, Wild, Peter Williamson, Phillippa Williamson and Yates. (18)

Against the amendment: Councillors Armstrong, Ashworth, Atkinson, Barry, Biddulph, Blamire, Brayshaw, Brookes, Brown, Bryning, Clifford, Cozler, Denwood, Devey, Hall, Hamilton-Cox, Hanson, Hartley, Hughes, Caroline Jackson, Kay, Kershaw, Knight, Leyshon, Leytham, Mann, Metcalfe, Novell, Newman-Thompson, Pattison, Redfern, Sands, Scott, Sherlock, Smith, Warriner, Whitaker, Whitehead and Wilkinson. (39)

With 18 voting for the amendment and 39 voting against, the amendment was lost.

At this point the Labour Group informed the Mayor that it would withdraw from the draw to resolve the three way tie between the Labour, Conservative and Green Groups for the last two places on the Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) PR grouping of committees, allowing the final two places to go to the Conservative and Green Groups. Council noted that this would give the Labour Group four places, the Conservative Group three places and the Green Group one place on each body with two seats (one Green and one Independent) to be determined. The Mayor called for a five minute adjournment to the meeting to allow the Green and the Independent Groups to come to an agreement about the two final seats.

The meeting adjourned at 7pm and reconvened at 7.05pm.

The Green and Independent Groups informed Council that the Green Group would take its final place on the Budget and Performance Panel and the Independent Group would take its place on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

There was no further debate and a vote was taken on the substantive motion, which was clearly carried.

Resolved:-

(1)     That the constitution of the Licensing Act Committee which is not required to be subject to the political balance requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 be confirmed as currently established.

(2)       That in undertaking the PR calculations on the Council’s Committees the Council’s agreed protocol be confirmed, utilising the following groupings:

·             Overview and Scrutiny (2 x 9)

·             Regulatory and timetabled Committees of Council (2 x 15 (Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee and Licensing Act Committee), 1 x 9 (Licensing Regulatory) and 2 x 7 (Personnel and Audit)

·             Remaining Standing and Joint Committees to be calculated separately and individually.

(3)     That pursuant to Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989, the City Council allocates the seats on Overview & Scrutiny, Regulatory, Standing and Joint Committees in accordance with the calculations set out in paragraph 5 of the report.

(4)     That Council notes that the allocation of seats referred to in (4) above is subject to review from time to time in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989 and Part 4 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations, 1990.