Agenda item

Appointments to Committees, Internal and Outside Boards and Panels and Calendar of Meetings

Recommendations from political group leaders and the Monitoring Officer.

Decision:

Councillor Liz Leyshon proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor David Fothergill.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to:-

Paper A

1)     Note the political balance of the Council and agree the proposed allocation of committee places as set out in this report and its appendices;

2)    Agree the terms of reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees as set out in the Council’s Constitution, this report and its appendices;

3)    Continue to endorse the recommendation of the political group leaders and agree to continue to set aside the political balance rules for the Standards Committee and the four area-based Planning Committees and instead allocate places for those committees on the basis set out in Appendix 3;

4)    Approve the political group leaders’ nominations for the appointment of Chairs, Vice-Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committee and joint committees as set out in the Appointments Schedule (see Appendix 3);

5)    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the appropriate political group leader, to make in-year changes to committee and joint committee appointments (excluding the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs) in accordance with the allocation of places to political groups by the Council and the wishes of the relevant political group leader.

Paper B

6)    Agree the appointment of members to internal, partnership and outside bodies for 2024/25 until the next Annual General Meeting, as set out in Appendix 1.

7)     Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the political group leaders, to make in-year changes to internal, partnership and outside bodies appointments in accordance with the wishes of the relevant political group leader.

Paper C

8)    Approve the proposed calendar of meetings for Somerset Council from 22 May 2024 (set out in Appendix 1).

9)    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to finalise and make any changes to the proposed meeting dates, times, meeting arrangements and meeting venues in consultation with the Chairs of the relevant committees.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer, David Clark, introduced the report which set out the proposed appointment of members to committee places, the proposed appointment of members to Outside Bodies and the proposed Calendar of Committee Meetings for the 2024-25 municipal year.

 

During the discussion, the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors requested a review be carried out on the Outside Bodies.

·       Concern was raised on what reporting process was followed by the representations on the Outside Bodies.

 

Councillor Liz Leyshon proposed the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor David Fothergill.

 

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council RESOLVED to:-

Paper A

1)     Note the political balance of the Council and agree the proposed allocation of committee places as set out in this report and its appendices;

2)    Agree the terms of reference, size and quorum arrangements for all committees as set out in the Council’s Constitution, this report and its appendices;

3)    Continue to endorse the recommendation of the political group leaders and agree to continue to set aside the political balance rules for the Standards Committee and the four area-based Planning Committees and instead allocate places for those committees on the basis set out in Appendix 3;

4)    Approve the political group leaders’ nominations for the appointment of Chairs, Vice-Chairs, members and co-opted members to the Council’s committee and joint committees as set out in the Appointments Schedule (see Appendix 3);

5)    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the appropriate political group leader, to make in-year changes to committee and joint committee appointments (excluding the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs) in accordance with the allocation of places to political groups by the Council and the wishes of the relevant political group leader.

Paper B

6)    Agree the appointment of members to internal, partnership and outside bodies for 2024/25 until the next Annual General Meeting, as set out in Appendix 1.

7)     Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the political group leaders, to make in-year changes to internal, partnership and outside bodies appointments in accordance with the wishes of the relevant political group leader.

Paper C

8)    Approve the proposed calendar of meetings for Somerset Council from 22 May 2024 (set out in Appendix 1).

9)    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to finalise and make any changes to the proposed meeting dates, times, meeting arrangements and meeting venues in consultation with the Chairs of the relevant committees.

Supporting documents: