Agenda item

The Council will be asked to consider the appointment of its committees in accordance with the Council's Constitution.

Members considered a report on the appointment of committees for the 2023/2024 municipal year which had been proposed in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and associated regulations.

The report highlighted that in late 2022 revisions had been made to the national Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Local Authority Chief Executives - National Salary Framework and Conditions of Service Handbook which outlined a revised structure for dealing with employment matters for Chief Officers.  Members noted that the Chief Officers’ Employment Committee would be asked to appoint three standing sub-committees in line with the handbook and considered revised terms of reference for all committees dealing with staff employment matters and appeals. 

The report went on to outline proposals for the establishment of four scrutiny committees that closely aligned with the Council’s key priorities under the direction and management of the Scrutiny Leadership Board and debate took place on appointment of those committees.  The appointment of other Council committees whose powers and duties would remain unchanged was also considered.

Although not subject to political balance rules, it was recommended that appointments to the Licensing Committee would be on a politically balanced basis and that the Committee would also appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee. 

Motion:  Councillor Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

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

·        Audit Committee

·        Planning Committee

·        Standards Committee.

2.      To appoint the following committees with the powers and duties as set out at Appendix 12a to the Council report:

·        Appeals Committee

·        Chief Officers’ Employment Committee.

3.      To appoint the following scrutiny committees with the powers and duties as set out at Appendix 12b to the Council report:

·        Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

·        Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee

·        Levelling Up Scrutiny Committee

·        Climate Change and the Environment Scrutiny Committee

           and delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Partnerships to amend the responsibility areas if Cabinet Member responsibilities are changed.

4.      To appoint a Scrutiny Leadership Board, with the powers set out in the Council’s constitution and for the Board to have an adjusted political balance membership of four Labour, six Conservative (to be made up of the Chairs, Vice Chairs of the four scrutiny committees, the Chair of the Audit Committee and also to add the Principal Opposition Group Leader as Chair of the Committee in line with the recommendation of agenda item 11).

5.      To agree the political balance attached at Appendix 12c to the Council report and appointments to the above committees at Appendix 12d and to delegate authority to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee to confirm appointments to co-opted positions throughout the year.

6.        To reappoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (equating to a membership of 12 and a composition of eight Labour and four Conservative).

7.        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.

8.        To request the Chief Officers’ Employment Committee to appoint the following standing sub-committees:

·        Chief Officers’ Appointments Sub-Committee

·        Chief Officers’ Disciplinary Sub-Committee

·        Chief Officers’ Appeals Sub-Committee

           with the powers and duties, as set out in Appendix 12a to the Council report including the appointments of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs and to add in the powers and duties of the Independent Panel (Statutory Officers) as referred to in paragraph 6.2 of the Council report and also set out in Appendix 12a.

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

10.     To agree to the memberships of the committees of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs as set out in Appendix 12d to the Council report and that delegated authority is given to the committees themselves to determine changes to Chairs and Vice Chairs, in line with the principles set out in this report should the need arise for change during the municipal year.

11.        To confirm the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution and the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board as set out in Appendix 12d to the Council report.

12.     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.