Agenda item

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 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”

 

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 the Chair had agreed to consider Part A of the motion in advance of the appointments. Before discussing the motion the Members were reminded that, although a formal decision had not yet made, the Authority had indicated previously that there was support for this part of the motion.

 

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

 

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.

 

2.    That Standing Orders 1.4(2) and 1.39(2) be omitted.

 

3.    That Standing Order 1.40 (Appointment of Standing Committees) be amended by the deletion of:

 

a)      Para 3(i) (The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority to be ex-officio)

 

b)      Para 3(iii) (The Chair of the other Standing Committees to be ex-officio)

 

c)      Para 4 (The Vice-Chair to attend ex-officio if the Chair is absent)

 

4.    That there be substituted for Standing Order 1.45 (Ex-officio Membership of National Park Authority Meeting – Part A Committees and Sub-committees) the following:

 

1)      On the basis set out in Paras (2) and (4) below, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority or the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Standing Committees may attend meetings of Standing Committees other than those to which they have been appointed subject to the normal rules governing debate and participation in meetings, and may take part in the discussion (but may not vote nor propose a motion or amendment) unless:

 

(i)      it would be unlawful or contrary to any of the Authority’s procedures, codes or other protocols to do so; or

 

(ii)   the Authority or, in the case of the appointment of a Sub-committee, the Committee in a particular case determines otherwise.

 

(2)     The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority and a Chair of a Committee may attend a meeting of a Standing Committee;

 

(3)     The Chair of a Committee may attend a meeting of a Sub-Committee appointed by the Committee on the same basis as in Para (1) above;

 

(4)     Under Paras (2) and (3), the Chair of a Committee may appoint the Vice-Chair to attend in his/her place.

 

Following the introduction Cllr P Brady spoke to his motion and the suggested amendments included in the Officer response. A proposal to amend the motion to reflect the changes proposed in paragraph 5 of the Officer’s report and a second proposal to allocate the local authority member places on Planning Committee was moved, seconded put to the vote and carried.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That Standing Orders 1.4(2) and 1.39(2) be omitted.

 

2.    That Standing Order 1.40 (Appointment of Standing Committees) be amended by the deletion of:

 

a)    Para 3(i) (The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority to be ex-officio)

 

b)    Para 3(iii) (The Chair of the other Standing Committees to be ex-officio)

 

c)    Para 4 (The Vice-Chair to attend ex-officio if the Chair is absent)

 

3.    That there be substituted for Standing Order 1.45 (Ex-officio Membership of National Park Authority Meeting – Part A Committees and Sub-committees) the following:

 

1)      On the basis set out in Paras (2) and (4) below, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority or the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Standing Committees may attend meetings of Standing Committees other than those to which they have been appointed subject to the normal rules governing debate and participation in meetings, and may take part in the discussion (but may not vote nor propose a motion or amendment) unless:

 

(i)    it would be unlawful or contrary to any of the Authority’s procedures, codes or other protocols to do so; or

 

(ii)   the Authority or, in the case of the appointment of a Sub-Committee, the Committee in a particular case determines otherwise.

 

(2)     The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Authority and a Chair of a Committee may attend a meeting of a Standing Committee;

 

(3)     The Chair of a Committee may attend a meeting of a Sub-Committee appointed by the Committee on the same basis as in Para (1) above;

 

(4)     Under Paras (2) and (3), the Chair of a Committee may appoint the Vice-Chair to attend in his/her place.

 

4.    To delete the heading before Standing Order 1.45 “EX-OFFICIO ATTENDANCE AT COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES” and place the revised Standing Order 1.45 under the heading “MEMBERS RIGHTS TO ATTEND AND SPEAK AT COMMITTEESS ABD SUB-COMMITTEES

 

5.    To review the impact of the changes at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

 

6.    To allocate Local Authority Member places on Planning Committee as follows:

      

            Derbyshire County Council                                                             1

            Derbyshire Dales District Council                                                  1

            High Peak Borough Council                                                           1

            Cheshire East Borough Council                                                     1

            Staffordshire CC/Staffordshire Moorlands DC                            1

            Metropolitan District Councils/ N E Derbyshire DC                     3

 

            Total                                                                                                   8