Agenda item

Members considered a report in regard to a Peer Review on decision making arrangements by the Local Government Association. 

The report had made several recommendations which were reported to Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee on 15 June, 2015.  They had subsequently agreed to ask all of the Committees for their views on the recommendations prior to any final decisions being made.

The proposals were considered by this Committee and the following observations were made:

(i)              Timing of Meetings

It was felt that, as a lot of Members were employed, the 7.00pm start for meetings should remain.  There was understanding in that Licensing Hearings should remain being held in the mornings as licensees needed to be at their Public House in an afternoon/evening.

(ii)             Merging of the Licensing and Public Protection Committees

This proposal had mixed views.  The two Committees dealt with separate issues but, Licensing Committees only lasted approximately thirty minutes so, on balance, it was considered that it shouldn’t be a problem to merge the two.

Staffing

This is an important committee and therefore should remain.

CAWP

One Member felt that this was important to retain the heritage of the Borough and therefore should be kept.

Attendance at meetings

Members felt that it was not a strain on their time to attend the meetings and committees which they are nominated to.  They are on committees that they have an ‘interest’ in the subject so it helps to keep them knowledgeable and gives a greater interest in those areas.

Extensive Committee Structures and use of Delegation

One Member stated that sometimes delegations were required and it also makes the process more democratic.

O & S Standing Committees and Task and Finish

Members felt that this depended on what is to be scrutinised, but also felt that Task and Finish Groups are important as they give an actual end date to a project.  No actual clear answer was given as to whether Standing Committees were required as well as task and finish groups but there was a lot of importance placed upon T&F.

Health and Wellbeing and Active and Cohesive

These two committees should be merged as the subject matter was of a similar nature.

Members Bulletin

Members agreed that this would be a useful aid.

Frequency of Elections

It was agreed that moving to all out elections would be an effective way to save the Council money and would also save officer and Member time.

Members questioned whether the possibility of electing by halves rather than by thirds had been investigated?

Reducing Councillors

Members agreed that this would be a cost saving to the authority but the boundaries would need to be closely looked at.

Member Development

No overall view on this but one Member stressed the importance of the ‘Member-led’ approach for Councils.

Reports

No views

Current Structure

No views

Good recommendations in principal.  Could the changes ie to committees be trialled for one municipal year to assess the effectiveness?

Resolved:              That the comments be forwarded to the Chief Executive.