Issue - meetings

To consider the following:-

·         a review of the size of the Planning Committee;

·         the quorum rules for Committees and Panels;

·         the allocation of seats to the political groups on those Committees and Panels to which political balance rules apply; and

·         to approve the appointment of Members to Committees and Panels.

The Leader of the Council moved the adoption of the recommendations contained within the report, which included a reduction in the size of the Council’s Planning Committee from 20 to 16, a change in the quorum rules for the Cabinet, Committees and Panels, and the necessary appointments to Committees and Panels in accordance with the principles as set out in Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

The Council, having received both the wishes of the political groups and the preferences of the non-aligned Members, considered the option to allocate seats to the non-aligned Members as nearly as possible in proportion to the number of those Members on the Council.

The Chairman confirmed that he would take any debate and a vote on recommendation 1.1 first, that the number of seats on the Planning Committee be reduced from 20 to 16.  Some Members spoke against the proposal and highlighted that the wide representation across the District that 20 councillors provided was an important factor, alongside the responsibility of councillors to manage their attendance.  Those speaking in support of the recommendations cited the Local Government Association Planning Advisory Service (PAS) recommendations, and that a third of the Council sitting on the Committee was not sustainable, particularly given the National Park Authority’s role as the Planning Authority for a significant geographical area in the District.  This recommendation was put to a vote and carried.

The Chairman then invited debate on the proposal to change the Council’s quorum rules as outlined in paragraph 2.3 of the report.  Some Members spoke against the proposal, citing the possibility of some meetings taking place with no more than three Members.  It was noted that this was the minimum allowed under the proposed quorum rules for Committees and Panels that had fewer than 12 seats.  The principle of a quarter of the membership applied for Committees and Panels with 12 or more seats, consistent with the quorum rules for Council meetings.  Some Members speaking in support of the recommendations argued that attendance was a matter for each individual Member to be held accountable for.  This recommendation was put to a vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the number of seats on the Planning Committee be reduced from 20 to 16;

2.      That the Council’s Standing Orders relating to quorum be amended as outlined at paragraph 2.3 of the report;

3.      That the allocation of seats to committees and panels in accordance with the principles set out in the report, be agreed as at the table at paragraph 4.6 of the report;

4.      That the Council gives effect to the wishes of the political groups in making appointments to these Committees and Panels, for the remainder of the four year period ending May 2023;

5.      That the effective date of the decisions above be 1 January 2022; and

6.      That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the above.