Issue - meetings

The Council considered the urgent report of the Chief Executive reporting that Norma Gladys Florence Shaughnessy had been elected as a Councillor for Maldon West Ward at the by-election held on 8 December 2016.

The report also sought review of political balance arrangements of the Council, revision to the membership of Committees and the allocation of seats as a consequence of the recent election.  Details of these proposed changes and consideration of Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (allocation of seats on Committees to Political Groups) was set out in the report.

It was noted that this matter had been brought forward for urgent consideration to avoid putting in place of such revised arrangements being delayed to the February meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED

(i)                that the arrangements for the allocation of seats on Committees as approved on 12 May 2016 be varied for the remainder of the current municipal year, as follows:

·                     Planning and Licensing Committee – ten places (eight to Conservative Group, two to Independent Group)

(ii)               that the resulting revised Committee Membership be confirmed for the remainder of the current municipal year:

·                     Councillor Mrs N G F Shaughnessy be appointed to the Community Services Committee

·                     Councillor M S Heard moves from the Community Services Committee to the Planning and Licensing Committee

·                     Councillor Miss M R Lewis reverts to an ex-officio non-voting member of the Planning and Licensing Committee