Agenda item

To appoint Members to serve on Committees.  (Report of the Head of Paid Service on the nominations of the Leader of the Council and the Opposition Leader to the places allocated to their respective groups copy to follow).

The Council considered the report of the Head of Paid Service, circulated prior to the meeting.

Following the Officers’ presentation of the report and in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor C Morris requested a recorded vote. 

Chairman put the three recommendations as set out in the report and voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors E L Bamford, R G Boyce, Mrs P A Channer, R P F Dewick, M F L Durham, Mrs J L Fleming, A S Fluker, B E Harker, A J Hull, K W Jarvis, J V Keyes, C P Morley, R H Siddall, Mrs M E Thompson and Miss S White.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, M S Beale, V J Bell, M R Edwards, M S Heard, K M H Lagan, C Mayes, C Morris, S P Nunn, N G F Shaughnessy, N Skeens, W Stamp, J Stilts and C Swain.

Abstention:

There were none.

The Chairman declared that the recommendations were agreed with the exception of the appointment of Councillor C Morris to the Strategy and Resources Committee. 

Following a request from the Chairman, the Senior Legal Specialist advised that the suggested appointment of Councillor Morris (as per paragraph 4.3 of the report) to the Strategy and Resources Committee required a unanimous decision by the Council.  It was explained that according to regulations and following the result of the recorded vote Councillor Morris was not able to sit on the Strategy and Resources Committee and therefore the Independent Group were able to nominate another Member to sit on that Committee.

At this point Councillor Morris requested that it be recorded that he was an elected representative who was not allowed to speak at or sit on a Committee.  He also asked why his request for a question under Rule 6 had been denied.

The Chairman advised that he was dealing with the matter of appointments to Committees and again referred to the Senior Legal Specialist who clarified that as the motion had been passed those Members (barring Councillor Morris) had been appointed to sit on the respective Committees.

The Chairman then asked Councillor M S Heard, Leader of the Opposition, if he wished to make a further nomination to the Strategy and Resources Committee.  In response, Councillor Heard proposed that Councillor C Swain be nominated to this Committee.  The Chairman put the proposal to the Council and this was duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)              that the Council notes the nominations of the Leader of the Conservative Group and the Leader of the Independent Group to the places allocated to their respective Groups;

(ii)            that the Council ratifies the existing arrangements for the District Planning Committees and Area Planning Committees (minus ex-officio membership) for the remainder of the current municipal year;

(iii)          that subject to Councillor C Swain being added to the Membership of the Strategy and Resources Committee, the Council agrees the membership of the following Committees of the Council for the remainder of the current municipal year:

At this point in the meeting Councillor Morris again mentioned his earlier point about raising a question under Rule 6 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.  In response, the Chairman read out Procedure Rule 6 (2)(b) relating to urgent questions and advised the Council that as Councillor Morris would not provide details as to the nature of his question as Chairman of the Council he had ruled that Councillor Morris could not ask a question under that Rule.

Councillor Morris responded to this ruling with several comments including reference to his rights to speak, during which he was reminded by the Chairman of the Council’s Constitution in respect of orderly conduct.

Councillor Morris continued without due regard to requests from the Chairman to refrain from further comment.  In response, the Chairman then asked for a motion (in accordance to Procedure Rule 10) that Councillor Morris be not further heard.  This was duly seconded and agreed by the Council.  The Chairman advised Councillor Morris that this decision meant that if he was not silent he would be asked to leave the meeting. 

Councillor Morris continued and in light of the motion agreed the Chairman requested that he leave the Chamber.  Councillor Morris refused.