Agenda item

The Council will be asked to consider the political balance and re-appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972, due to the creation of an Independent Group.

The Council was asked to consider the political balance and re-appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972, due to the creation of an Independent Group.  The Deputy Mayor informed the Council that the group would be known as the ‘Independent Blackpool Residents Group’.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor T Williams seconded):

‘1.      To appoint the following Council committees, in line with the political balance calculations and adjustments at Appendix 8(a) and to agree that the powers and duties remain as set out in the Council’s Constitution:

·         Adults Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee (membership of ten with a composition of six Labour, three Conservative and one independent)

·         Resilient Communities and Children’s Scrutiny Committee  (membership of ten with a composition of six Labour, three Conservative and one independent)

·         Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee  (membership of ten with a composition of six Labour, three Conservative and one independent)

·         Audit Committee  (membership of nine with a composition of six Labour and three Conservative)

·         Appeals Committee (membership of seven and with a composition of five Labour and two Conservative)

·         Planning Committee (membership of eight and with a composition of five Labour, two Conservative and one independent)

·         Standards Committee (membership of six and with a composition of four Labour and two Conservative)

·         Chief Officers Employment Committee (membership of six and with a composition of four Labour and two Conservative)

·         Shareholder’s Advisory Board (membership of four and with a composition of three Labour and one Conservative)

2.       That in relation to scrutiny, to agree to continue with two diocesan co-opted representatives and the two governor co-opted representatives to the Resilient Communities and Children’s Scrutiny Committee and for that committee to confirm  the necessary appointments.

3.       That the Licensing Committee also be re-appointed with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (membership of fourteen and a composition of nine Labour, four Conservative and one independent).

4.       That the Licensing Committee be requested to re-appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee, with the powers and duties, as set out in the Constitution (membership of seven and with a composition of five Labour and two Conservative).

5.       To note the appointment of members to committees as set out in Appendix 8(b) and thereafter any nominations or changes to nominations reported to the Director of Governance and Partnerships by the relevant Group Leader. 

6.       To agree to the appointment of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen for those committees as identified at Appendix 8(b) based on the above recommendations.

7.       To note that the Health and Well Being Board is not affected by the creation of an Independent Group and remains constituted as agreed at Annual Council.

8.       As a new Independent Group has been constituted, then as is normal practice when positions are created which are not already in the Council’s Members Allowances Scheme (ie Group Leader of a third group) that a referral to the Independent Remuneration Panel be made and a report from that Panel be considered at the next meeting of the Council.

9.       To agree that the Director of Governance and Partnerships be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.