Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report reviewing the Council’s decision-making structure.  She advised that Council was required to approve the size of the proposed committees and the allocation of seats to political groups.  Council noted that, following the outcome of the Datchworth & Aston by-election, one political group of 49 Members had been formed and its nominations to the seats on committees were detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head also referred to the proposed terms of reference for the two new scrutiny committees, which were detailed on Essential Reference Paper ‘C’ of the report now submitted, and referred to a typing error in paragraph 6.44, where the number of Standards Sub-Committee members should have read “four” and not “three”.

Council approved the proposals as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the following Scrutiny Committees, Regulatory Committees and Joint Committee 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 ‘D’ 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, and Independent Member being appointed to Committees as now detailed;

(C)      the intention of the Leader of the Council to appoint 5 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;

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

(E)      the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make changes in the standing membership of committees and joint committee in (A) above, in accordance with the wishes of the political group to whom seats on these bodies have been allocated;

(F)       the action to be taken by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader, under delegated authority, concerning the appointment of representatives to outside bodies, be noted; and

(G)      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 (F) above.