Issue - meetings

(i) Appointment of Committees

That Council appoints the following Committees:

Audit Committee

Clwyd Pension Fund Committee

Constitution and Democratic Services Committee

Joint Governance Committee (for Pensions)

Licensing Committee

Planning Committee

Standards Committee

The six Overview & Scrutiny Committees listed in paragraph 1.01

Grievance Committee (appointed on 9 April 2019)

Investigation and Disciplinary Committee

(ii) Determination of the size of Committees

(a)       That the size of each committee be as set out in paragraph 1.04 of the report and that an additional lay Member be recruited to the Audit Committee as set out in the report; and

(b)       That a review of committees be undertaken in the next 12 months including the number of elected Members and lay members on the Audit Committee membership.

(iii) Terms of Reference of Committees

That the terms of reference for each Committee in the Constitution be approved with the addition of the Grievance Committee appointed at the last meeting and the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee as set out in the report.

(iv) Political Balance

That the seats be allocated in accordance with political balance (and the rules on membership of the Planning Committee) as set out in the revised spreadsheet.

(v) Appointment of Chairs of Standing Committees

(a)       That the Chairs of the following Committees be appointed (noting any restrictions on eligibility):

·         Clwyd Pension Fund Committee - Councillor Aaron Shotton

·         Constitution and Democratic Services Committee - Councillor Ted Palmer

·         Licensing Committee - Councillor Tony Sharps

·         Planning Committee - Councillor David Wisinger

(b)       That the Grievance Committee and Investigation & Disciplinary Committee should each appoint its own Chair from amongst its membership; and

(c)        That the following groups be allocated the chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committees as outlined:

            Community and Enterprise           -             Labour Group

            Corporate Resources                     -             Conservative Group

            Education and Youth                     -             Labour Group

            Environment                                    -             New Independents Group

            Organisational Change                 -             Independent Alliance Group

            Social & Health Care                      -             Liberal Democrats Group

(vi) Local Choice Functions

That the Local Choice functions as set out in the Constitution be approved.

(vii) Nominations to Internal Bodies

That the make-up of the Appointments Committee be approved.

(viii) Standards Committee and Appointments to Outside Bodies

(a)       That the composition and membership of the Standards Committee be noted; and

(b)       That Council notes that nominees to Outside Bodies have been appointed for the whole Council term and the Chief Executive’s power to vary those nominations (in consultation with Group Leaders).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Officer (Governance) which dealt with matters that required decision at the Annual Meeting of the County Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.1 (vii) - (xiv).  The report was split into sections, each one dealing with one decision that needed to be made and the relevant issues for consideration.  Each section was considered and voted on in turn.

(i)        Appointment of Committees

The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that the Constitution provided for the appointment of the following: Audit Committee; Clwyd Pension Fund Committee; Constitution & Democratic Services Committee; Joint Governance Committee (for Pensions); Licensing Committee; Planning Committee; Standards Committee; and the six Overview & Scrutiny Committees.  The Grievance Committee and Investigation & Disciplinary Committee were also to be appointed as agreed at the previous meeting.

Councillor Patrick Heesom asked for clarification on the need to appoint an Investigation & Disciplinary Committee when the Standards Committee was already in place.  The Chief Officer advised that whilst the Standards Committee considered any breaches of the Code of Conduct by councillors, a separate committee was required to be established to consider disciplinary matters relating to officers, specifically the named statutory officers as set out in legislation.  Councillor Heesom requested details of the officers to whom this would apply.  The Chief Officer agreed to supply the names of the officers whose posts were indicated on the report.

Councillor Chris Bithell moved approval of the recommendation in the report which was seconded by Councillor Ian Roberts.

RESOLVED:

That Council appoints the following Committees:

Audit Committee

Clwyd Pension Fund Committee

Constitution and Democratic Services Committee

Joint Governance Committee (for Pensions)

Licensing Committee

Planning Committee

Standards Committee

The six Overview & Scrutiny Committees listed in paragraph 1.01

Grievance Committee (appointed on 9 April 2019)

Investigation and Disciplinary Committee

(ii)        Determination of the size of Committees

The Chief Officer explained that the size of each committee must be decided at the Annual Meeting.  Details of the provision for the size of the Committees were set out in the report, including a recommendation from the Audit Committee to increase its size to allow for an additional lay member.

In referring to the importance of the Audit Committee, Councillor Heesom called for further consideration on the size of its membership to include wider Member representation, particularly if there was an increase in the number of lay members.  He asked whether the Leader would consider deferring a decision on that particular committee to allow for more discussion.

The Chief Officer explained that such a decision would result in the postponement of the next Audit Committee meeting to enable the item to be decided at the next Council meeting in June.

On the legislative restrictions on membership of the Planning Committee, Councillor Mike Peers drew attention to the rules on multiple Member ward representation as set out in the Political Balance section of the report.

In response to Councillor Heesom, Councillor Roberts acknowledged the benefits of lay members serving on Committees and proposed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9