Agenda item

Motions

To receive any motions from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 19.

 

Note: The deadline for motions to be considered at this meeting was Monday 20 July 2020 and 5 were received as follows:

 

Motion 1.

 

“This Council resolves to implement a change in decision-making governance arrangements, comprising the cessation of the current Leader and Cabinet model of governance and the implementation of a Full Committee model of governance. This is to be developed during 2020 with a view to the arrangements taking effect at the earliest opportunity, but no later than the commencement of the next Council Municipal Year in May 2021, subject to a legally and constitutionally robust process. The changes are to be led by the Monitoring Officer and the Members Code of Conduct committee and agreed by the Council.”

 

Proposed by: Cllr Helen Harvey 

Seconded by: Cllr Olivia Rybinski

 

 

Motion 2.

 

The Leader said he would be more inclusive when he was elected and yet has not demonstrated this so under Standing Order 28.2 I propose a variation to Council Standing Order 8.3 little f.   

 

I move the following:-

 

“8.3 little ‘f’ be amended to prevent the Leader assigning all the Outside Bodies to his own party as opposed to the councillors best suited to carry out these roles.”

 

Proposed by: Cllr Richard Smith-Ainsley

Seconded by: Cllr Denise Saliagopoulos

 

Motion 3.

 

This Council seeks to consider a constitutional change away from a Leader and Cabinet form of government as specified in the current constitution.

Consideration may be given to a full committee-based system, but all options as to change should be considered. In accordance with Article 15 of the current constitution the monitoring officer (as appropriate seeking advice from members’ code of conduct) is asked to prepare a report on the proposal to contain:

  • A full explanation of the committee-based system using specific council examples
  • The benefits of a change to such a system
  • Other options as to change whether by retaining the current system but limiting powers
  • Resources needed to rewrite the constitution
  • Resources needed for public consultation
  • Costs implications of all options
  • Time frame for implementation
  • Other extraneous obstructions (i.e. Unitary proposals by Surrey CC)

 

Proposed by: Cllr John Boughtflower

Seconded by: Cllr Jim McIlroy

 

 

Motion 4.

 

“The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published its report on Local authority investment in commercial property on 13th July 2020.  The Council notes the following conclusions arising from the report:

 

-  That in the view of the PAC, Spelthorne Borough Council borrowing from the Public Works Loans Board since 2016 has been excessive and undertaken against DHCLG and CIPFA guidance.

-  That in some authorities there have been failings in transparency, with decision making by small groups and inadequate scrutiny.

 

The Council resolves to take the following actions in response to the PAC report:

 

- To require greater member involvement in all future investment related decisions above a defined transaction value.

- To make available to members full information on significant portfolio expenditures, lettings and contractual amendments within 14 days of the decision.

- To revise accounting structures to clearly separate the property investment portfolio from other Council activities and to make this segmentation transparent in future reporting to members.

- To establish portfolio performance measures and risk management parameters to be reported periodically to members.

 

The details of these actions are to be agreed by the Leader's Property Investment Task Group and submitted to the Council for ratification.”

 

Proposed by:  Cllr Lawrence Nichols

Seconded by: Cllr Bernie Spoor

 

 

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order 17 the Council received four written Notices of Motions.

 

Councillor H. Harvey moved and Councillor O. Rybinski seconded the following motion:

 

“This Council resolves to implement a change in decision-making governance arrangements, comprising the cessation of the current Leader and Cabinet model of governance and the implementation of a Full Committee model of governance. This is to be developed during 2020 with a view to the arrangements taking effect at the earliest opportunity, but no later than the commencement of the next Council Municipal Year in May 2021, subject to a legally and constitutionally robust process. The changes are to be led by the Monitoring Officer and the Members Code of Conduct committee and agreed by the Council.”

 

Councillor J. Doerfel, proposed the following amendment which was seconded by Councillor V. Siva:

 

“This Council resolves to implement a change in decision-making governance arrangements, comprising the cessation of the current Leader and Cabinet model of governance and the implementation of a Full Committee model of governance. This is to be developed during 2020 with a view to the arrangements taking effect at the earliest opportunity, but no later than the commencement of the next Council Municipal Year in May 2021, subject to a legally and constitutionally robust process. The changes are to be led by the Monitoring Officer and the Members Code of Conduct committee  debated and agreed by the Council.”

 

The amendment was carried and the new substantive motion put to the vote.  A recorded vote was requested by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley. The recorded vote was as follows:

 

FOR (20)

Cllrs Bateson, Beardsmore, Brar, Cornes, Doerfel, R. Dunn, S. Dunn, Fidler, Grant, H. Harvey, I. Harvey, Lagden, Nichols, Rybinski, Saliagopoulos, Sexton, Siva, Smith-Ainsley, Spoor, Vinson

AGAINST (17)

Cllrs ~Boughtflower, McIlroy, Attewell, Barnard, C. Barratt, R. Barratt, Buttar, Chandler, Gething, Gibson, Harman, Islam, Leighton, Madams, Mitchell, Noble, Sider,

ABSTAIN (2)

J. Doran, S. Doran

 

The substantive motion was carried.

 

The second motion was proposed by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley who, under Standing Order 28.2, proposed a variation to Council Standing Order 8.3.and moved “8.3 little ‘f’ be amended to prevent the Leader assigning all the Outside Bodies to his own party as opposed to the councillors best suited to carry out these roles.”

 

This was seconded by Councillor D. Saliagopoulos and, in accordance with Standing Order 28.2, was adjourned without discussion, to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

 

 

It had been moved by Councillor I. Beardsmore and seconded by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley to suspend Standing Order 5.1 and continue the meeting until the end of the business. 

 

The motion was lost and the meeting adjourned at 9.00pm with the remaining business to be carried over to the next ordinary meeting.