Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillors N Brooks, M Cox, N Decent, B Dion, L-J Evans, G Farquhar, S Gabriel, N Geary, M Greene, N Greene, A Hadley, C Matthews and Dr F Rice.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

The Council is asked to consider and approve the review of the political balance of the Council, the allocation of seats on Committees to each Political Group, appointment of Councillors to Committees and appointments to Outside bodies following Councillors Steve Baron, Daniel Butt, Judes Butt and Mohan Iyengar leaving the Conservative Group and subsequently establishing a new Political Group including Councillor Julie Bagwell.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Council was asked to consider and approve the review of the political balance of the Council, the allocation of seats on Committees to each Political Group, appointment of Councillors to Committees and appointments to Outside bodies following Councillors Steve Baron, Daniel Butt, Judes Butt and Mohan Iyengar leaving the Conservative Group and subsequently establishing a new Political Group including Councillor Julie Bagwell.

Councillor Hilliard proposed an amendment to the recommendations, proposing that the allocations be awarded in accordance with what was discussed at the recent group leaders meeting.

This proposal was seconded by Councillor L Dedman.

The Monitoring Officer advised Council that the proposed amendment had a -1 allocation next to one of the parties meant that a unanimous vote would be required.

The Leader advised that as this amendment required unanimous support, he would ask that the vote be now put without further debate on the basis that the amendment would fall as he was not prepared to support it.

The Chairman requested that the vote be put. A recorded vote was taken on whether the vote be now put and was carried with voting as follows:

For – 35

Against – 26

Abstentions - 0

Following the vote Councillor Hilliard summed up the amendment expressing his disappointed.

The amendment did not receive unanimous support and therefore fell.

Following further debate on the substantive motion Councillor Hilliard proposed a further amendment that Christchurch Independents give up their seat on Licensing in exchange for one of the Conservative seats out of their six seats on Corporate and Community.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Dedman.

The proposed amended allocation was circulated to Council electronically.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment which fell with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.