Issue - meetings

The Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services submitted a report reviewing the Council’s decision-making structure.  He advised that Council was required to approve the size of the proposed committees and the allocation of seats to political groups.  Council noted that one political group of 50 Members had been formed and its nominations to the seats on committees were detailed in the report now submitted. 

The Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services also advised that Council was required to appoint a Leader for the life of the Council and it would be the Leader’s responsibility to determine the size of the Executive, portfolio arrangements and appointments.  These were set out in the report now submitted.

The Leader thanked Members for her appointment and paid tribute to Councillor Jackson for his 9 years of leadership which had been recognised nationally.  She spoke of his significant contribution which had left East Herts in a very strong position.

Council approved the proposals as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the following Scrutiny Committees, Regulatory Committees, Joint Committee and Joint Member Panel be appointed, with the number of voting Members stated:

(B)      the membership of Scrutiny Committees, Regulatory Committees, the East Herts Council and Stevenage Borough Council Joint Revenues and Benefits Committee be as set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ of the report submitted, with Members being appointed in accordance with the wishes of the political group to whom the seats on these bodies have been allocated;

(C)      Councillor L Haysey be appointed as Leader of the Council for the life of the Council;

(D)      the intention of the Leader of the Council to appoint 6 Members to the Executive (in addition to the Leader) with the portfolio responsibilities as detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be noted;

(E)      the programme of Council meetings, as detailed at paragraph 5.1 of the report submitted, be approved;

(F)       the Director of Finance and Support Services be authorised to make changes in the standing membership of committees, joint committee and panel in (A) above, in accordance with the wishes of the political group to whom seats on these bodies have been allocated;

(G)      the action to be taken by the Director of Finance and Support Services, in consultation with the Leader, under delegated authority, concerning the appointment of representatives to outside bodies, be noted;

(H)      the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make such amendments to the Council’s constitution as may be necessary to account for the decisions in (A) to (G) above; and

(I)        the last Chairman of the Health of the Wellbeing Panel be authorised to sign as a correct record, the Minutes of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6