Agenda item

To discuss the Notice of Motion moved by Cllr P Brady and seconded by Cllr Mrs J Twigg at the meeting of the Authority held on 5 June 2015.

A copy of the original motion is attached.

At the meeting of the Authority held on 5 June 2015 Cllr P Brady moved a motion, seconded by Cllr Mrs J Twigg, proposing amendments to the Standing Orders relating to the key Member appointments and Ex-Officio Committee Membership. At that meeting, in accordance with Standing Orders, consideration of the motion was adjourned to this meeting because if approved it would require an amendment to Part 1 of the Authority’s Standing Orders. As submitted the motion was split into Part A which addressed issues relating to Ex-Officio appointments and Part B which included proposals to replace the existing appointment principles with “democratic principles”. Consideration of most of Part A of the motion took place earlier in the meeting as the proposals relating to Ex-Officio Membership of Committee would have an impact on the Committee appointments to be made later in the meeting (Minute 94/15 refers).

The Democratic Services Manager introduced this item by providing officer feedback on the proposals and confirming that the motion on the table at the start of the debate was as follows:-

Part A (Deferred from earlier discussions)

1.         That a new Standing Order 1.3A be introduced to read as follows:

a)         The Authority shall approve and thereafter keep under review a statement, to be known as “the Democratic Principles”, the purpose of which shall include advice to guide Members on factors to be taken into consideration when electing or appointing Members to an office or position.

b)         Before the Authority elects or appoints a Member to a position of responsibility, the Chief Executive shall draw to the attention of members the Democratic Principles or the relevant section thereof.

Part B

That there be substituted for the Appointment Principles, the Democratic Principles as set out in the appendix. (A copy is attached as appendix 3 of these minutes.)

In speaking to his motion Cllr P Brady provided the background to the preparation of the motion and the reasons for proposing the “Democratic Principles”. Following his introduction Cllr Brady proposed that consideration of this part of the motion be deferred until the October meeting to provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to meet and develop proposals to address the issues highlighted during the discussions and the comments in the officer response.

RESOLVED

1.         To defer consideration of the remaining elements of the motion set out above until the October meeting of the Authority.

2.         To appoint the following Members to a working group to meet with officers to consider a response to the issues raised:

       Cllr P Brady                          Cllr C Furness

       Mr Z Hamid                           Cllr Mrs N Hawkins

3.         To confirm that attendance at meetings of the working group are an approved duty for the payment of travel and subsistence allowances.