Agenda item

The Sub-Committee is invited to consider the following new requests for representation.

(1)               Sandbach Town Plan Steering Group

(2)               National Executive of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities

The Sub-Committee considered a report giving details of two new requests for representation.  The report also provided a list of appointments made by the Constitution Committee and Cabineet in June 2011.

21.1    Sandbach Town Plan Steering Group

At the previous meeting, a request for representation on Sandbach Town Plan Steering Group was considered but deferred for further enquiries.  No further information was currently available.

Councillor Barry Moran, who was a founder Member of the Steering Group reported on its activities.

The Sub-Committee agreed that it was appropriate for this organisation to be added to the Category 2 list of approved outside bodies. 

21.2    National Executive of the Federation of Burial and Cremation    Authorities

Councillor David Marren, who was a Member of the National Executive of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities had suggested that the Sub-Committee may wish to consider adding this organisation to the list of approved outside bodies.  A copy of its constitution was also submitted. 

As this was an organisation which was able to influence policy at a national level, it was considered by Members to be a nomination which should be made by Cabinet. It was noted that any nomination from this Authority would be submitted to the National Executive which would, in turn, vote on the nomination.

21.3    Appointments – 2011-2015

During consideration of the schedule of appointments made in June 2011, discussion focused on the number of outside bodies to which the Council appointed and the effectiveness of representation.

A thorough review of representation on outside bodies was required.  It was acknowledged that as there were 72 organisations on the Category 2 list, it would be less unwieldy to tackle these in six phases, dealing with 12 organisations at a time.

The programme for the review was suggested as follows :

·      Survey letter to Councillors to be drafted for approval by the Sub-Committee at a meeting to be held in July 2011.  Members did not consider it appropriate to send out a form.  The letter would seek to establish –

o        How often the outside body met.

o        How often did Members attend meetings?

o        Did the member consider representation to be worthwhile?

o        Was the contribution of a Cheshire East Member of benefit to the outside body?

·      Following approval of the proposed letter, it would be sent to those Members who had been appointed to the first 12 outside bodies (listed alphabetically below) requesting responses by a specified date to enable information to be prepared for a meeting of the Sub-Committee which would be held in October 2011.

• Alexandra Soccer & Community Association   (3-99)
• Almshouse Charity of Sir Edmund Wright, Crewe and Others (2-89)
• Alsager Education foundation (2-43)
• Alsager Leisure Centre Advisory User Panel  (3-100)
• Alsager Partnership (2-44)
• Association for Public Service Excellence (2-139)
• Astbury Mere Trust (4-101)
• Audlem Education Foundation (2-46)
• BAE Systems Woodford Local Consultative Committee (3-102)
• Bent Farm Sand Quarry Liaison Committee (2-47)
• Bollin Valley Steering Committee (2-48)
• Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics and Community Activities Association (3-103)

·      A survey form had already been sent to the outside organisations as part of the appointments notification process, with a request that they return it “in due course”.  It may be necessary to follow this up in the next few months.

·      At its July meeting, the Sub-Committee would examine (a) the constitutions of each of the organisations listed; (b) the responses from councillors; and (c) the responses from the outside bodies themselves.

·      As part of the review, Members would explore the possibility of reducing representation to one Member on each organisation.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Constitution Committee be recommended to add Sandbach Town Plan Steering Committee to the approved list of Category 2 organisations, and that Councillor Barry Moran be appointed as the Council’s representative;

2.         That Cabinet be recommended to add the National Executive of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities to the approved list of Category 1 organisations, and that Councillor David Marren be nominated as the Council’s representative;

3.         That the Sub-Committee undertake a comprehensive review of representation on outside organisations to establish the effectiveness and appropriateness of representation;

4.         That a meeting of the Sub-Committee be held on 27 July 2011 at 10.00 am at a venue to be advised, to consider the first stage of the review; as identified above; and

5.         That a meeting of the Sub-Committee be held in October 2011 to consider the results of the first stage of the review.