Agenda item

To consider a report of the Council Solicitor & Monitoring Officer that details appointments in the associated Blue and Pink Schedules and to note the changes made to the Constitution regarding remote attendance at Council meetings.

Madam Mayor brought to the attention of Council the updated version of the Appointments to Main Council Bodies report, otherwise known as the Blue Schedule that was circulated in the week prior to the meeting. Additionally, that a further late change had been received to the schedule. This was to add Councillor Prince to the vacancy listed on the Brandon Hill Cemetery Joint Committee.

It was also noted that, in addition to including all the annual appointments to committees, panels, working groups and outside bodies, the report asked Council to suspend paragraph 2.3 of part 4F of the Constitution to enable it to agree Chairs and Vice-Charis as part of the report. The report also asked Members to note the new remote meeting procedure that had been added at part 4O of the Constitution following consultation with both Groups.

The recommendations in the report were proposed by the Leader, Councillor Newman and seconded by Councillor Tim Pollard.  They were put to the vote and passed unanimously.

RESOLVED: Council AGREED the recommendations in the report:

    i.           Agreed (or received for information as applicable) the following appointments where the number of nominations was equal to the number of available positions:

a.          The appointments to Committees of the Council (Blue Schedule); and

b.          The appointments to all other Panels, Working Groups and Outside Bodies (Pink Schedule).

   ii.           Agreed the suspension of paragraph 2.3 of the Non-Executive Procedure Rules (Part 4F of the Constitution) for the municipal year 2020/2021.

  iii.           Agreed, with the exception of the Licensing Sub-Committee, the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair of all Council committees and sub-committees as set out in the (Blue Schedule) for the municipal year 2020/2021. This is without prejudice to the provisions set out in paragraph 2.4 of Part 4F of the Constitution which would continue to apply enabling in year vacancies to either the Chair or vice Chair to be filled by election at the first meeting of the relevant committee or sub-committee following notification to the Council Solicitor.

 iv.           Received for information executive appointments made under the Leader and Cabinet decision making framework:

a.          The appointments of Cabinet Members, Cabinet Committees and Deputy Cabinet Members (Blue Schedule);

b.          The appointments to Joint Committees (Blue Schedule);

c.          The appointments to London Councils Committees and Panels and Local Government Association bodies (Blue Schedule); and

d.          The appointment of Councillors to the Health & Wellbeing Board (Blue Schedule).

   v.           Noted that the Leader has confirmed his intention to continue to devolve decision making powers to Cabinet or relevant Cabinet Members

 vi.           Received for information:

a.          The appointments of Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet (Blue Schedule); and

b.          The appointments of political party group officers (Blue Schedule).

vii.           Noted that the Council Solicitor has exercised her powers under Article 15 of the Constitution paragraph 15.2 (d) to make changes to the Council’s Constitution arising as a result of legislative changes brought about by the Coronavirus Act 2020 and in particular the The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 with regard to remote attendance at council meetings. The revised Protocol and Procedure Rules have been approved and incorporated into the Council’s Constitution at Part 4.O.