Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Monitoring Officer seeking Members’ consideration of a Review report provided by the East of England Local Government Association, commissioned by the Leader of the Council, regarding the Corporate Leadership of the Council (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

The report provided background information in relation to the Review (Appendix 1) that had been undertaken and the recommendations set out within it.

The Leader of the Council and Monitoring Officer both spoke to the report and thanks were given to those Officers for their work in moving this forward.  In respect of recommendations (ii) and (iii) to set up a Working Group, the Monitoring Officer advised that for those non-aligned Members of the Council the Leader had indicated that if those Members contacted him, he would feed into the Working Group on their behalf.  It was noted that the report detailed a proposed timetable for meetings of the Working Group following which a recommendation would come from the Working Group and it was hoped this would be considered at an extraordinary Council meeting in early 2024.

Councillor M E Thompson proposed an amendment to recommendation (iii) that the Deputy Group Leaders be included in the Working Group.  This proposal was duly seconded.

Members debated the report and appendix, with comments being made in respect of whether additional parts of the Council’s structure should be considered and the need to carefully consider and make savings as a Council. 

In response to the proposed amendment, the Leader of the Council advised that the whole purpose of the proposed membership was to keep the Working Group agile and effective.  He advised this piece of work was driven by the opportunity to review the Corporate Leadership structure and was not driven by the desire to reduce costs.  Should a Group Leader be unable to attend both Working Group meetings they could put forward a substitute.  A number of Members offered their support to the amendment proposed and in response the Monitoring Officer explained why he had suggested the Working Group be made up of the four Political Group Leaders, highlighting the need for agility.

Following further discussion the Chairperson moved recommendation (i) and (ii) as set out in the report and these were duly agreed.  In respect of recommendation (iii) he moved the proposed amendment in the name of Councillor Thompson to include Deputy Group Leaders.  This was duly agreed.  It was noted that Councillors M F L Durham, R H Siddall and E L Stephens were not in favour of the proposal.  The Chairperson then moved recommendation (iii) as amended and upon a vote being take this was duly agreed.  The Chairperson asked for it to be noted that Councillor M F L Durham had abstained from voting.

RESOLVED

(i)               That the Corporate Leadership Review at Appendix 1 to the report is noted;

(ii)              That the Council agrees a Working Group is formed to consider the four recommendations at Appendix 1 to the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 409