Council – 15 December 2025
Allocation of seats and appointments to committees and panels
|
Purpose |
For Decision |
|
Classification |
Public |
|
Executive Summary |
Following recent changes to the membership of the Conservative Group and the number of non-aligned members, it is necessary to review the representation of political groups on committees and panels. Having regard to the current number of Members on the Council and applying the necessary principles of proportionality in order, the council is required to consider changes to its previously agreed position. The number of Members in each political group has not changed and therefore this has not altered the overall allocation when applying the political proportionality rules. It is however necessary to review the appointments of councillors to individual committees and panels in light of recent changes. |
|
Recommendations |
That the Council:- 1. considers the allocation of seats to committees and panels in accordance with the principles set out in the report, and in doing so, agrees to the allocation set out in the table in Appendix 1, which proposes no change to the previous position agreed on 13 October; and
2. appoints councillors to individual committees and panels, as identified in Appendix 2, for the remainder of the four year period ending May 2027.
|
|
Reasons for recommendations |
To comply with the provisions of Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, relating to the duty to allocate seats to political groups, following a division on the Council. |
|
Wards |
All |
|
Portfolio Holder |
Councillor Jill Cleary, Leader |
|
Strategic Director |
Kate Ryan, Chief Executive |
|
Officer Contacts |
Karen Wardle Principal Democratic Services Officer 023 8028 5071
Matt Wisdom Assistant Director – Strategy and Engagement (Monitoring Officer) 023 8028 5072 |
Introduction and background
1. In accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, it is necessary to review the representation of political groups on committees, whenever there is a division on the Council. This review is necessitated by a changes to the membership of the Conservative Group and to the non-aligned Members. For this purpose, “committees” includes the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Panels but excludes the Cabinet.
2. There are four statutory principles of political balance which have to be applied in filling appointments to committees. These are contained in Section 15(5) of the Act.
3. The principles that have to be applied are as follows:-
(a) that not all seats on the body are allocated to the same political group;
(b) that the majority of the seats on the body are allocated to a particular political group if the number of persons belonging to that group are a majority of the Authority’s membership;
(c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, that the number of seats on the ordinary committees of a relevant Authority which are allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the total of all the seats on the ordinary committees of that Authority as is borne by the number of members of that group to the membership of the Authority; and
(d) subject to paragraphs (a) to (c) above, that the number of seats on the body which are allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the same number of all seats on that body as is borne by the number of members of that group to the membership of the Authority.
4. Once the Council has determined the allocation of committee places between the political groups, the Council must then appoint the nominees of the political groups to the committees.
5. Those members who are not members of political groups have no legal entitlement to an allocation of seats on committees. However, once the political groups’ entitlement has been reached, any remaining seats may be filled by members not belonging to a political group. Such Members are classed as being non-aligned.
6. These provisions need not be applied if a different position is agreed without any member of the authority voting against.
7. It should be noted that, although the legislative position refers to “political” groups, this also includes the Independent Group. Although not affiliated with a political party, the Independent Group have formed a group in accordance with the legislation.
Changes to the political balance since the Current position
8. At the Council meeting on 13 October, the Council considered a report detailing the changes to the political balance. Since that meeting the following changes have occurred:
· Cllr Thierry resigned as a member of the Conservative Group on Thursday, 16 October.
· Cllr Penman joined as a member of the Conservative Group on Monday, 20 October.
Essentially, this means that there is no change to the political balance.
9. The political balance of the Council now stands as follows:-
|
Conservative Group |
25 |
(52.08%) |
|
Liberal Democrat Group |
14 |
(29.17%) |
|
Independent Group |
4 |
(8.33%) |
|
Green Group |
2 |
(4.17%) |
|
Labour and Co-operative (Non-aligned) |
1 |
|
|
Reform UK (Non-aligned)
Non-aligned
|
1
1 |
|
|
Total |
48 |
|
Appointments to committees and panels
10. There are 84 seats to which appointments should be made under the principles of proportionality.
11. The application of the percentages outlined at paragraph 9 provides for the following allocation of whole seats to political groups across the overall Council position:-
|
Conservative Group |
44 |
|
Liberal Democrat Group |
25 |
|
Independent Group |
7 |
|
Green Group |
4 |
|
Unallocated |
4 |
|
Total |
84 |
12. Having regard to the overall position outlined at paragraph 11, the application of the percentages outlined at paragraph 9 requires the rounding up or down of calculated figures to give whole numbers on committees. The Council should, as far as practicable, ensure fairness on each committee, including across the wider allocation in making these adjustments, whilst taking into account the proportionality rules in their stated order, as far as practicable.
13. In this particular instance, the Council must have regard to the principle in the legislation, noted at paragraph 3(b), that the majority of the seats on the body are allocated to a particular political group if the number of persons belonging to that group are a majority of the Authority’s membership. An adjustment of +2 to the number of seats allocated to the Conservative Group is necessary to achieve this outcome.
14. The final recommended allocations are outlined at Appendix 1, following a review of the implications for individual committees and panels by Group Leaders.
15. At the last review undertaken in October 2025, the Council also resolved to allocate two seats to two non-aligned Members, on the Appeals Committee and the Housing and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel. The Council’s Constitution makes provision for the allocation of seats to Members who are not members of a political group, as nearly as possible in proportion to the number of those members on the Council. It is now the case that there are two seats that can be allocated to two of the three non-aligned Members, having first complied with the legislative principles for the allocation of seats. It is acknowledged that with three non-aligned Members, it is not possible to allocate a seat to all three, when complying with the legislative provisions above.
16. The nominees of the political groups to the committees and panare detailed in Appendix 2. It should be noted that if Members seek to make any amendments, this may affect the calculations and subsequently the nominees.
Corporate plan priorities
17. The recommendations support the Council in delivering all corporate plan priorities by maintaining the Council’s ability to function as a collective body in accordance with relevant legislation.
18. Within the current decision making structure of a total of 84 seats, there is no mechanism to achieve a position which allocates 44 seats to the Conservative Group, whilst maintaining the overriding principle that as the majority group, it must hold the majority of seats on each individual committee/panel. Indeed, a fundamental review of the committee structure to adjust the total number of seats up or down from 84 is likely to also impact on the allocation of seats to other political groups.
19. The Council can choose to agree an alternative allocation that does not satisfy the proportionality requirements, providing that this is agreed without a single Member of the Council voting against.
Consultation undertaken
20. Consultation has been undertaken with the Council’s Statutory Officers, the Portfolio Holder (Leader) and all other Group Leaders.
Financial and resource implications
21. There are no financial or resourcing implications arising specifically from this report.
Legal implications
Risk assessment
23. It is not deemed necessary to complete a formal risk assessment in respect of this procedural report.
Environmental / Climate and nature implications
24. There are no environmental or climate and nature implications arising directly from the review of political proportionality.
Equalities implications
25. There are no equalities implications arising, although the process of reviewing proportionality ensures that the democratically elected position of the Council is reflected in the Council’s approach to committee and panel business.
Crime and disorder implications
26. There are none arising from this report.
Data protection / Information governance / ICT implications
27. There are none arising from this report.
|
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Table of allocations Appendix 2 – Appointments to Committees and Panels |
Background Papers:
Local Government and Housing Act 1989 |