Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED:  1)       That the Draft Guidance to Councillors serving on Outside Bodies, attached at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted.

2)             That the Scheme of Delegation be amended to Delegate Authority to the Monitoring Officer/Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holder to add/remove Outside Bodies from the list of Outside Body Appointments made by Cabinet and Council as appropriate.

Reason for Decision

To ensure continued and effective involvement by the Council with external organisations, promoting the Corporate Priorities of the Council.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report which presented information on the next steps, following a questionnaire that had been sent to all Councillors that served on Outside Bodies and all Organisations to which members were appointed to serve.  The report also presented a revised Guidance Note for members appointed to Outside Bodies for approval.

It was explained that the report gave members the ability to review the outside bodies as required. 

Under standing order 34 Councillor Lawrence asked if it was known what would happen to the outside bodies after local government review.  The Chair explained that at this stage it was not known what would happen to them.  However it was pointed out that Internal Drainage Boards were statutory bodies so the Government would decide the representation on them.

The Deputy Chief Executive also pointed out that in reviewing any outside bodies, account would need to be taken of whether ceasing to provide representatives would render the body unable to take decisions as it would no longer be quorate.

It was noted that the Corporate Performance Panel had supported the recommendations with some additional requests that would be taken into account.

RECOMMENDED:    1)        That the Draft Guidance to Councillors serving on Outside Bodies, attached at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted.

2)             That the Scheme of Delegation be amended to Delegate Authority to the Monitoring Officer/Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holder to add/remove Outside Bodies from the list of Outside Body Appointments made by Cabinet and Council as appropriate.

Reason for Decision

To ensure continued and effective involvement by the Council with external organisations, promoting the Corporate Priorities of the Council.