Agenda item

Changing to a Committee system

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer on a proposal for a change in the Council’s Governance arrangements.

Minutes:

The Council considered the report of the Monitoring Officer on a change to the Committee system.

 

Councillor J.R. Boughtflower proposed:

 

1.    the objectives as set out in paragraph 4 of the report are adopted to achieve the desired change;

2.    this is recognised as a flagship project for the Council;

3.    the indicative budget is allocated for this flagship project and on-going structure as set out in this report; and

4.    this project proceeds without a meaningful public consultation exercise built into the timetable, as it is acknowledged that to undertake such an exercise may result in the timetable extending beyond the May 2021 date for implementation.

 

The proposal was seconded by Councillor J. McIlroy.

 

Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley proposed and Councillor I.J. Beardsmore seconded the following amendment by the addition and deletion of words, to Paragraph 4 of the Motion:

 

“this project proceeds with a meaningful public consultation exercise built into the timetable, it is acknowledged that to undertake such an exercise may result in the timetable extending beyond the May 2021 date for implementation.”

 

Having sat for three hours, it was moved, seconded and agreed to suspend Standing Order 5 to continue the business on the agenda until 10pm or close of business, whichever was sooner.

 

Councillor R.J. Noble called for a recorded vote on the amendment.

 

The result of the vote was:

FOR (14)

Councillors C. Bateson, I.J. Beardsmore, A. Brar, R.D. Dunn, S.A. Dunn, H. Harvey, I.T.E. Harvey, T. Lagden, O. Rybinski, D. Saliagopoulos, J.R. Sexton, R.A. Smith-Ainsley, B.B. Spoor and J. Vinson.

AGAINST (20)

Councillors M.M. Attewell, C. Barnard, C. Barratt, R.O. Barratt, J.R. Boughtflower, S. Buttar, J.T. Doran, S.M. Doran, T. Fidler, N.J. Gething, M. Gibson, K.M. Grant, A.C. Harman, N. Islam, V.J. Leighton, M.J. Madams, J. McIlroy, A.J. Mitchell, R.J. Noble and R.W. Sider BEM.

ABSTAIN (2)

Councillors J.H. Doerfel and L.E. Nichols

 

The amendment was lost and the original Motion was open to debate.

Councillor R.J. Noble left the meeting following the vote on the amendment.

 

Councillor J.H. Doerfel proposed and Councillor I.J. Beardsmore seconded the following amendment by the addition and deletion of words, to Paragraph 4 of the Motion:

 

“This project proceeds with a meaningful public consultation exercise built into the timetable, as agreed by Council on 30 July 2020.”

 

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the timetable agreed by Council on 30 July 2020 was to change to the Committee system at the Annual Council meeting on 27 May 2021.

 

The Leader, Councillor J.R. Boughtflower advised that it was his intention that all councillors would be invited to agree the questions to be posed in the public consultation.

 

The amendment was debated, put to the vote and unanimously carried.

 

The substantive Motion was put to the vote and it was:

 

Resolved

 

1.    the objectives as set out in paragraph 4 of the report are adopted to achieve the desired change;

2.    this is recognised as a flagship project for the Council;

3.    the indicative budget is allocated for this flagship project and on-going structure as set out in this report; and

4.    this project proceeds with a meaningful public consultation exercise built into the timetable, as agreed by Council on 30 July 2020.

 

Supporting documents: