Agenda item

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 and the appointment of Councillors on Committees following the change in administration and two resignations from the Poole People and All Group.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Mellor presented a report on the review of the political balance of the Council and the allocation of seats, 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.

The 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 and the appointment of Councillors on Committees following the change in administration and two resignations from the Poole People and All Group.

The Leader of the Council outlined the proposal that the administration would not have the majority of seats on the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  Members were referred to recommendation (f) and the Leader proposed that Councillor Steve Baron take up the unaligned seat on the Dorset and Wiltshire Joint Fire Authority.  The Leader reported that currently there was no unaligned member identified to take the seat on the Lower Central Gardens Trust Board unless a nomination came forward for the Council to consider this seat would remain vacant.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Broadhead.

Councillor Rice reported that she no longer had a seat on the Dorset Pension Fund Committee following the review of the political balance of the Council but had thoroughly enjoyed her role on the Committee.  In particular she highlighted the influence of Pension Funds and the impact on climate change.  Councillor Brown expressed his concerned about recommendation (e) and the proposed change in the allocation of seats on the Pension Fund.  In doing so he highlighted the significant training required and level of work as a member of the Committee.  He paid tribute to Councillor Rice for her contribution which had been highly significant. Councillor Brown reported that he was not pleased with how this change had been managed in particular with regard to the circulation of papers for an upcoming meeting.

Councillor Earl proposed the following amendment to (c) and (d) of the recommendations in the report which she indicated would better reflect the proportionality of the Council:

Amendment:

(c)   the allocation of seats to each political group, as set out in Table 2, be approved with the following amendments: 

(i)    The Liberal Democrat Group's allocation of seats on Audit & Governance Committee is reduced from three to two.

(ii)   The Conservative Group's seats on Audit & Governance Committee is increased from four to five.

(iii)  The Conservative Group's seats on Overview & Scrutiny Board is reduced from seven to six.

(iv)  The Liberal Democrat Group's allocation of seats on Overview & Scrutiny Board is increased from three to four.

(d)   the appointment of Councillors to Committees and Boards, taking into account the membership, as detailed in Table 3, and any nominations submitted by political groups, be approved apart from those Lib Dem and Conservative seats on Audit & Governance and Overview & Scrutiny Board.

Councillor Earl outlined the reasons for the above amendment taking account of the legislative requirements and felt there was currently a glaring imbalance in the proportionality on particular bodies.  Councillor Phipps confirmed that she would second the amendment and highlighted the importance of scrutiny of the administration by the opposition and therefore felt that the unity alliance opposition should have a majority on the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Councillors discussed the amendment as detailed above and the basis on which the political balance of the Council was calculated upon.  A Councillor referred to ensuring that every single committee was balanced and the need for flexibility in the size of the Committee. The Leader of the Council indicated that it was not appropriate to make alternative proposals and clarified his proposal to reduce the conservative members on the Overview and Scrutiny Board from eight to seven.

The Chairman reported that the amendment was a variance to the proposals and would ask Members to vote on the amendment.  He called on Councillor Earl to sum up who highlighted that proportionality was the issue.

The amendment was lost

Voting: For – 32; Against – 39; Abstention - 2

Members then spoke on the substantive motion.

Councillors commented on the role of pension funds and the effect on climate change. Councillors comments included the approach by a number of Pension Funds to divest from fossil fuels.

The Leader of the Poole People Group referred to the allocation of outside bodies and in particular the allocation of a seat on the Lower Central Gardens Trust Board to the Group which he had not been consulted upon.

The Chairman indicated that Councillor Brown had previously spoken on the amendment and had a right to speak on the substantive motion.  However, he requested that Members focus on the political balance of the Council.  A Councillor asked for clarification on the right of reply and how it applied.  The Chairman confirmed that Councillor Brown did not have a right of reply. 

A Councillor indicated that he was confused by the approach taken in respect of the appointments to outside bodies and indicated that none of these positions should be amended until annual council and suggested that this was not the correct approach and not open and transparent.  The Monitoring Officer reported that outside bodies can be changed at the discretion of the Leader of the Council in accordance with the BCP Council’s Constitution. 

The substantive motion as follows was carried

Voting: For – 47; Against – 25; Abstentions - 1

It was RESOLVED that:-

(a)   the revised political balance of the Council, as set out in Table 1 of this report, be approved;

(b)   the number of seats on the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee be reduced from 7 to 6;

(c)   the allocation of seats to each political group, as set out in Table 2, be approved;

(d)   the appointment of Councillors to Committees and Boards, taking into account the membership, as detailed in Table 3, and any nominations submitted by political groups, be approved;

(e)   the allocation of seats to each political group to the outside bodies as detailed in Table 4, be approved and the Group Leaders advise the proper officer of their representatives;

(f)    subject to (e) above Councillor Steve Baron is appointed as the unaligned Member of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority and Councillor Stephen Bartlett is appointed to the Lower Central Gardens Trust Board.

The meeting was adjourned from 9.18pm to 9.30pm