Agenda item

The Council will be asked to consider the re-appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972, due to changes in the political make-up following the by-election.

Members considered proposals in relation to the re-appointment of its committees as a result of changes to the political make-up following the by-election.

Motion: Councillor Taylor proposed (and Councillor Hugo seconded) the following motion:

‘1.    To re-appoint the following Council committees, with powers and duties as set out in the Council’s Constitution:

•     Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee

•     Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee

•     Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

•     Audit Committee

•     Appeals Committee

•     Planning Committee

•     Standards Committee

•     Chief Officers Employment Committee

2.         To re-appoint a Scrutiny Leadership Board, with the powers set out in the Council’s constitution and for the Board to continue to have an adjusted political balance membership of three Labour, four Conservative (to be made up of the Chairs, Vice Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees and the Chair of the Audit Committee).

3.      To continue the inclusion of the non-aligned member Councillor Mrs Callow to the Board and to also appoint her as Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board. 

4.      To agree the revised political balance attached at Appendix 6(a) to the Council report and appointments to the above committees at Appendix 6(b).

5.      To re-appoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (equating to a revised membership figure of 13 and a composition of seven Labour, five Conservative and one Blackpool Independent).

6.      To request the Licensing Committee to re-appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee, with the powers and duties, as set out in the Constitution including the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

7.      To agree that any membership changes to committees or sub-committees during the remainder of the Municipal Year be reported to the Director of Governance and Partnerships by the relevant Group Leader for implementation. 

8.      To agree to the memberships of the committees of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs as set out in Appendix 6(b) to the Council report.

9.      To note that a best practice review of the scrutiny arrangements is to be conducted and to request that the matter of scrutiny chairs forms part of that review.

10.  To note the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as this is unaffected by political balance arrangements. 

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

Amendment: Councillor T Williams then proposed (and Councillor Clapham seconded) the following amendment with regard to recommendation 8:

‘To agree to the memberships of the committees of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs as set out in Appendix 6(b) of the report except for the appointment of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Tourism, Economy and Communities, the Adult Social Care and Health and Children and Young People Scrutiny Committees, with these positions to appointed as follows:

Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Cllr G Walsh (Conservative), Vice Chair: Cllr F Jackson (Labour)

Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Cllr M Scott (Conservative), Vice Chair: Cllr K Critchley (Labour)

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Cllr A Stansfield (Conservative), Vice Chair: Cllr P Burdess (Labour)

Discussion then took place on the amendment and a range of views were expressed in relation to the proposals.

Amendment carried: The amendment was submitted to the Council and carried.

Debate then took place on the substantive motion with members speaking for and against the proposals.

Substantive motion carried: The substantive motion was submitted to the Council and carried.