Issue - meetings

(i)        Appointment of Committees

That Council appoints the following Committees for 2022/23:

Appeals Committee

Climate Change Committee

Clwyd Pension Fund Committee

Constitution and Democratic Services Committee

Governance & Audit Committee

Grievance Committee

Grievance Appeals Committee

Investigation and Disciplinary Committee

Joint Governance Committee (for Pensions)

Licensing Committee

Overview & Scrutiny Committees as follows:

·                     Community & Housing

·                     Corporate Resources

·                     Education, Youth & Culture

·                     Environment & Economy

·                     Social & Healthcare

Planning Committee

Standards Committee

(ii)       Size of Committees

(a)       That the size of each committee be as set out in paragraph 1.03 of the report; and

(b)       That the review of size of committees to odd numbers be referred to Group Leaders prior to the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee to enable a report back to Council.

(iii)      Terms of Reference of Committees

That the terms of reference for each Committee, as set out in the Constitution, be approved.

(iv)      Political Balance

(a)       That seats be allocated in accordance with political balance as set out in Appendix 1 and the rules on membership of the Committees as set out within the report; and

(b)       That the seats on the Grievance, Grievance Appeals and Investigation and Disciplinary Committees be allocated to give a broad political spread of membership.

(v)       Determination of Groups to appoint Overview & Scrutiny Chairs

That the Chairs of Overview & Scrutiny Committees be allocated as follows:

Overview & Scrutiny Committee:       Group to choose Chair:

Community & Housing                            Independent

Corporate Resources                              Independent

Education, Youth & Culture                    Labour (Councillor Teresa Carberry)

Environment & Economy                        Labour (Councillor David Evans)

Social & Healthcare                                 Eagle

(vi)      Appointment of Chairs of Standing Committees

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

·           Climate Change Committee - Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson

·           Clwyd Pension Fund Committee - Councillor Ted Palmer

·           Constitution & Democratic Services Committee - Councillor Rob Davies

·           Licensing Committee - Councillor Rosetta Dolphin

·           Planning Committee - Councillor Richard Lloyd

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

(vii)     Approval of the Constitution

That the rules, procedures, delegations and codes/protocols within the Constitution be approved.

(viii)    Nominations to Internal Bodies

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

(ix)      Standards Committees

That the three Councillors already appointed to serve on the Standards Committee for this term be noted.

(x)       Appointments to Outside Bodies

That Council delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, to make any amendments to appointments to outside bodies as required.

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 also dealt with the appointment of other Committees and Chairs and other issues such as allocation of seats under political balance.

The report was split into sections, each one dealing with one decision that needed to be made and the relevant issues for consideration.

(i)        Appointment of Committees

The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that the Constitution provided for the appointment of the committees listed in paragraph 1.01 of the report.

The recommendation was moved and seconded by Councillors Ian Roberts and Billy Mullin.  On being put to the vote, this was carried.

RESOLVED:

That Council appoints the following Committees for 2022/23:

Appeals Committee

Climate Change Committee

Clwyd Pension Fund Committee

Constitution and Democratic Services Committee

Governance & Audit Committee

Grievance Committee

Grievance Appeals Committee

Investigation and Disciplinary Committee

Joint Governance Committee (for Pensions)

Licensing Committee

Overview & Scrutiny Committees as follows:

• Community & Housing
• Corporate Resources
• Education, Youth & Culture
• Environment & Economy
• Social & Healthcare

Planning Committee

Standards Committee

(ii)        Determination of the size of Committees

The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that the size of each committee must be decided at the Annual Meeting and that Council had previously agreed that the major Committees should be large enough for all political groups to be represented.  Reference was made to legislative requirements relating to the size and composition of the Planning Committee, Governance & Audit Committee and Standards Committee, as detailed in 1.04 of the report.

The recommendation was moved and seconded by Councillor Ian Roberts and Billy Mullin.

Councillor Glyn Banks referred to the political balance rule which stated that a majority group was entitled to a majority upon every committee.  He pointed out that where the majority group held half the seats, including the Chair, on a committee of 12, the Chair’s casting vote would in effect give them overall control.

The Chief Officer advised that Council could change the size of committees after the Annual Meeting if a consensus could be reached amongst Group Leaders.  He added that the political balance rule did not take account of Chairs’ casting votes and said that there were a number of committees where the majority group did not have the casting vote.

In response to a question from Councillor Mike Peers, the Chief Officer advised that the Planning Strategy Group was an advisory group appointed under Executive arrangements whose role was recognised in the Constitution, therefore was not included in the list of formal decision-making bodies in the report.

Councillor Bernie Attridge proposed an amendment that Councillor Banks’ request be referred to the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee so that a report could be brought back to Council.  He was seconded by Councillor Richard Jones.

The amendment was accepted by Councillor Ian Roberts who requested that the matter also be discussed with Group Leaders.  This became the substantive motion which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7