Agenda item

To receive nominations and appoint Chairs to each of the under-mentioned bodies noting that, in accordance with the Constitution, only non-Cabinet Members are entitled to vote on (a) and (b) below:-

(a)        Overview and Scrutiny Committee – shall not be member of the largest political group with members serving on the Cabinet.

(b)        Budget and Performance Panel – shall not be a member of the largest political group with members serving on the Cabinet.

(c)        Planning Regulatory Committee

(d)        Licensing Committee

(e)        Personnel Committee - recommended to include at least one Cabinet Member

(f)         Appeals Committee

(g)        Audit Committee – shall not be a Member of Cabinet or Overview and Scrutiny

(h)        Standards Committee

(i)         Council Business Committee

The Mayor requested nominations for Chairs for the Overview and Scrutiny bodies and for each of the Council’s Regulatory and Standing Committees. 

The Mayor reminded Members that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution only non-Cabinet Members were entitled to vote on the Chairs proposed for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Budget and Performance Panel.

In relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Clifford was nominated by Councillor Cleet, seconded by Councillor Jenkins. Councillor Austen-Baker was nominated by Councillor Joan Jackson, seconded by Councillor De La Mare.   With 16 votes for Councillor Clifford and 22 votes for Councillor Austen-Baker, the Mayor declared Councillor Austen-Baker appointed Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

For the Budget and Performance Panel, Councillor De La Mare was nominated by Councillor Gardiner, seconded by Councillor Budden.  No further nominations were put forward and the Mayor declared Councillor De La Mare Chair of the Budget and Performance Panel.

For the Planning Regulatory Committee, Councillor Thornberry was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Hartley. Councillor Budden was nominated by Councillor Guilding, seconded by Councillor De La Mare. A recorded vote was then requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.

The votes were recorded as follows:-

For Councillor Thornberry:  Councillors Anderson, Askari, Bannon, Biddulph, Black, Brookes, Bryning, Clifford, Greenwell, Hartley, Hunter, Jenkins, King, Lewis, Parr, Penny, Redfern, Robinson, Sinclair, Taylor, Thornberry, Whitaker, Whitehead, Wood and Young.  (25)

Against Councillor Thornberry: Councillors Anderton, Austen-Baker, Budden, De La Mare, Gardiner, Guilding, Heath, Jackson (Joan), Knight (Geoff), Knight (Sarah), Matthews, Morris, Thomas and Wild. (14)

Abstentions: Councillor Boyd-Power, Cleet, Dant, Dennison, Frea, Greenall, Hamilton-Cox, Jackson (Caroline), Lenox, Pritchard and Stubbins. (11)

For Councillor Budden: Councillor Anderton, Austen-Baker, Boyd-Power, Budden, De La Mare, Dennison, Gardiner, Greenall, Guilding, Heath, Jackson (Joan), Knight (Geoff), Knight (Sarah), Matthews, Morris, Thomas and Wild. (17)

Against Councillor Budden: Councillors Askari, Bannon, Biddulph, Black, Bryning, Clifford, Hartley, Hunter, Jenkins, King, Lewis, Parr, Redfern, Robinson, Taylor, Thomas, Whitaker, Whitehead, Wood and Young. (20)

Abstentions:Councillors Anderson, Brookes, Cleet, Dant, Frea, Greenwell, Hamilton-Cox, Jackson (Caroline), Lenox, Penny, Pritchard, Sinclair and Stubbins. (13).  

Councillor Thornberry was duly appointed Chair of the Planning  Regulatory Committee.

Two nominations were made for Chair of the Licensing Committee. Councillor Hartley was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Robinson.

Councillor Gardiner was nominated by Councillor De La Mare, seconded by Councillor Guilding.

A recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.

The votes were recorded as follows:-

For Councillor Hartley:Councillors Anderson, Anderton, Askari, Bannon, Biddulph, Black, Bryning, Cleet, Clifford, Dennison, Greenall, Greenwell, Hartley, Hunter, Jenkins, King, Lenox, Lewis, Parr, Redfern, Robinson, Taylor, Thornberry, Whitaker, Whitehead, Wood and Young. (27)

For Councillor Gardiner: Councillor Austen-Baker, Budden, De La Mare, Gardiner, Guilding, Heath, Jackson (Caroline), Jackson (Joan), Matthews, Morris, Stubbins, Thomas and Wild. (13)

Abstentions:Councillors Boyd-Power, Brookes, Dant, Frea, Hamilton-Cox, Knight (Geoff), Knight (Sarah), Penny, Pritchard and Sinclair. (10)

Councillor Hartley was appointed Chair of Licensing Committee.

For the Personnel Committee, Councillor Wood was nominated by Councillor Robinson, seconded by Councillor Hartley. Councillor Anderton was nominated by Councillor Geoff Knight, seconded by Councillor Dennison. A recorded vote was then requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.

The votes were recorded as follows:-

For Councillor Wood:  Councillors Anderson, Askari Biddulph, Black, Bryning, Cleet, Clifford, Hartley, Jenkins, King, Lewis, Parr, Redfern, Robinson, Taylor, Thornberry, Whitaker, Whitehead and Wood. (19)

For Councillor Anderton:Councillors  Anderton, Bannon, Boyd-Power, Brookes, Dant, Dennison, Frea, Greenall, Greenwell, Hamilton-Cox, Heath, Hunter, Jackson (Caroline), Knight (Geoff), Knight (Sarah), Lenox, Matthews, Stubbins and Young. (19)

Abstentions: Councillor Austen-Baker, Budden, De La Mare, Gardiner, Guilding, Jackson (Joan), Morris, Penny, Pritchard, Sinclair, Thomas and Wild. (12).  

This produced a tie situation. Councillor Geoff Knight, seconded by Councillor Stubbins proposed “that another vote be held to attempt to break the tie.” The proposal was carried when put to the vote and a second vote was recorded as follows:-

For Councillor Wood:  Councillors Anderson, Askari Biddulph, Black, Bryning, Cleet, Clifford, Hartley, Jenkins, King, Lewis, Parr, Redfern, Robinson, Taylor, Thornberry, Whitaker, Whitehead and Wood. (19)

For Councillor Anderton:Councillors  Anderton, Austen-Baker, Bannon, Boyd-Power, Brookes, Budden, Dant, De La Mare, Dennison, Frea, Greenall, Greenwell, Guilding, Hamilton-Cox, Heath, Hunter, Jackson (Caroline), Jackson (Joan), Knight (Geoff), Knight (Sarah), Lenox, Matthews, Morris, Stubbins, Thomas, Wild and Young. (27)

Abstentions:Councillors Gardiner, Penny, Pritchard and Sinclair. (4).  

Councillor Anderton was appointed Chair of the Personnel Committee.

In relation to the Appeals Committee, Councillor Black was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Robinson. There were no further nominations. The Mayor declared Councillor Black appointed Chair of the Appeals Committee.

For the Audit Committee, Councillor Robinson was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Hartley. Councillor Stubbins was nominated by Councillor Young, seconded by Councillor Dant. With 19 votes for Councillor Robinson, 24 votes for Councillor Stubbins and 7 abstentions, Councillor Stubbins was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee.

Next, Councillor King was proposed by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Robinson, for the Chair of the Standards Committee. Councillor Young was proposed by Councillor Dant, seconded by Councillor Dennison. Councillor King received 19 votes, Councillor Young received 26 votes and there were 5 abstentions. Accordingly, the Mayor declared Councillor Young Chair of the Standards Committee.

Finally, for Council Business Committee there were three nominations. Councillor Lewis was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Hartley. Councillor Cleet nominated Councillor Clifford, seconded by Councillor Jenkins. Councillor Geoff Knight was nominated by Councillor Dennison, seconded by Councillor Greenall.

A vote was taken, which yield 16 votes for Councillor Lewis, 7 votes for Councillor Clifford, 17 votes for Councillor Geoff Knight and 7 abstentions.

As the nominee with the fewest votes, Councillor Clifford dropped out and a further vote was taken. Councillor Lewis received 21 votes, Councillor Geoff Knight received 23 votes and there were 5 abstentions. The Mayor declared Councillor Geoff Knight Chair of Council Business Committee.  

Resolved:-

That the following Councillors be appointed Chairs of the undermentioned Committees for 2022/23: