Agenda item

To consider the content set out in the report in relation to the Notices of Motion submitted in respect of the Council's Governance Arrangements.

At the Council meeting held on 13 December 2018, the following Notices of Motion were referred to a special meeting of Council for determination: -

A.    This Council requests that a comparative analysis be published to enable a special meeting of Council, to be held in February 2019, or as soon as possible thereafter, to discuss and debate changing to a committee system form of governance. - Proposed by Councillor James Nicholas and Seconded by Councillor Craig Browne.

B.    This Council agrees to allocate all chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees to opposition members as soon as practicable. - Proposed by Councillor Craig Browne and Seconded by Councillor Arthur Moran.

C.    This Council agrees to allocate all remaining committee chairs across the political groups in line with the principle of proportionality. - Proposed by Councillor Arthur Moran and Seconded by Councillor Bernice Walmsley

The Mayor explained the procedure that she proposed to follow for this item.

Prior to the debate on each Notice of Motion, each of the Notices of Motion would be introduced by the Lead Member responsible for their submission. That Lead Member would be allowed an extended speaking time, in support of that Notice of Motion, of 10 minutes. Whilst speaking, the Lead Member would be expected to make a formal proposal to the meeting, which would need to be seconded, prior to being debated and then voted upon. All other speakers would be allowed the usual period of time of 5 minutes to speak on each Notice of Motion. Each Notice of Motion would be subject to the usual rules of debate.

It was queried whether it would be appropriate for Cabinet Members to take part in the debate on the Notices of Motion. The Acting Director of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised that there was no interest which would preclude Cabinet Members from taking part in the debate.

Notice of Motion A

With regard to Notice of MotionA, the following motion was proposed and seconded:-

“This Council resolves to change to a committee system form of governance with effect from the 2020/21 Municipal Year”.

Following debate, a requisition for a named vote was submitted and duly supported. The motion was put to the meeting with the following results:-

For

Councillors C Andrew, S Brookfield, C Browne, B Burkhill, P Butterill, S Carter, S Corcoran, I Faseyi, R Fletcher, D Flude, T Fox, M Hardy, A Harewood, S Hogben,  D Hough, L Jeuda, D Mahon, S McGrory, A Moran, J Nicholas, M Parsons, J Rhodes, B Roberts, A Stott and B Walmsley .

Against

Councillors A Arnold, G Baggott, Rachel Bailey, Rhoda Bailey, G Barton, P Bates, M Beanland, D Bebbington, E Brooks, D Brown, J Clowes, H Davenport, S Davies, M Deakin, T Dean, L Durham, S Edgar, JP Findlow, S Gardiner, S Gardner, L Gilbert, C Green, P Groves, G Hayes, D Marren, A Martin, R Menlove, G Merry, B Moran, S Pochin, M Sewart, M Simon, D Stockton, G Wait,  G Walton, L Wardlaw, J Weatherill, G Williams and J Wray.

Not Voting

Councillor L Smetham.

The motion was declared lost, with 25 votes for, 39 against and 1 not voting.

(At this point the meeting was adjourned for lunch).

Notice of Motion B

With regard to Notice of MotionB, the following motion was proposed and seconded:-

“This Council resolves to allocate all Scrutiny Committee Chairs to opposition groups from the beginning of the 2019/20 Municipal year. The precise allocation shall reflect the size of each opposition group, proportionate to the total number of opposition Members”.

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

Notice of Motion C

With regard to Notice of MotionC, the following motion was proposed and seconded:-

“This Council agrees to allocate all remaining Committee Chairs across the Political groups, in line with the principle of proportionality, from the start of the 2019/20 Municipal Year”.

Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and declared lost.