Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive (copy to follow).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive, circulated prior to the meeting, seeking Members’ agreement to appoint Members to serve on Working Groups of the Council for the municipal year, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. The report details changes to Working Groups following an annual housekeeping review.

The Leader of the Council presented the report and proposed that recommendations (i), (ii) and (iii) as set out in report be agreed.

Councillor A S Fluker referred to the Planning Policy Working Group (PPWG) advising that traditionally this had been made up of an equal balance of Members from the North and South of the District. As the Southminster Ward had more strategic allocations than any other area of the Council he proposed that membership of the PPWG be increased by one and Councillor R G Pratt join the PPWG. This proposal was duly seconded and agreed.

Councillor E L Stephens referred to the Strategic Housing Group and noted that Appendix 1 also referred to the Housing and Homelessness Reference Group under this Group. She advised that at this time it was just called the Strategic Housing Board. The Chairperson advised that this would be made clear in the Appendix.

The Chairperson advised that recommendations (i) – (iii) had been agreed by assent.

The Leader of the Council moved recommendation (iv) to establish a new Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution Working Group, as set out in the report with Terms of Reference as detailed in Appendix 2. At this point Councillor W Stamp proposed that the Terms of Reference for this Working Group be amended to state that meetings are scheduled on a four-weekly basis with a proviso that an emergency meeting could be called as and when an emergency arose. This proposal was duly seconded and agreed.

In response to a question regarding whether Devolution should be referred to in the title of the Working Group given that the Council didn’t have much input into the Devolution agenda, the Chairperson advised that it was important to have the opportunity for a conversation regarding Devolution, if needed. The Chief Executive informed Members that keeping Devolution in the title would allow Members to be kept informed. Whilst Devolution applied to upper tier Authorities, lower and future unitary authorities would have a part to play, and it was important that Members were kept informed on what was going on.

The Leader then put recommendation (iv) to the Council with the revision to the Working Group Terms of Reference as proposed by Councillor Stamp and this was duly agreed.

The Leader put recommendation (v) as set out in the report to the Council. This was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That the appointments to the Working Groups of the Council as set out APPENDIX 2 to these Minutes be confirmed;

(ii)            That Working Group Terms of Reference are updated as per the details and member seat numbers set out below:

·                Member and Officer Net Zero Working Group membership increased in size to eight Members.

·                Strategic Asset Group and Finance Member Group membership increased to ten Members.

·                Strategic Housing Board membership increased to nine Members and a review of its Terms of Reference is to take place, reporting back to the Council in the coming months.

(iii)           That a new Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution Working Group is established, and the Terms of Reference attached at APPENDIX 3 to these Minutes be adopted;

(iv)           That the Terms of Reference for the new Leisure Contract Board at APPENDIX 4 to these Minutes, are adopted.