Agenda item

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The Chief Executive presented the report which invited the Panel to consider the findings of the Council Meeting Arrangements – Informal Working Group.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the key issues set out in the report and Section 2 on page 81.

Councillor Mrs Spikings explained that she was not present at the second meeting of the Informal Working Group (IWG) but reiterated that 6 pm was considered too late to hold a Full Council meeting at 6 pm as it was too late to attend a 3 hour meeting plus travelling home.

The Chair and Councillor Morley drew the Panel’s attention to page 89 5) That Full Council be held at 6 pm.

Councillor Spikings commented those present had agreed 6 pm and that she was not involved in the last discussion and added if she had been able to attend would have objected to a 6 pm start and explained that Councillors and workers had caring responsibilities for elderly relatives as well as children.

Councillor Hudson concurred with the comments made by Councillor Spikings and explained that the whole Labour group confirmed they wished to remain with a 4.30 pm start time.  Councillor Hudson added that employers were obliged to grant time off to attend Council meetings and that a meeting finishing at 10 pm was not acceptable and some Councillors had to travel a long distance home.

The Chair added that he did not agree with the comments made by Councillor Hudson and drew the Panel’s attention to page 81, 2.5 – The IWG considered the start time for full Council meetings.  There was no agreement by the IWG on a recommended start time.

Councillor Mrs Spikings asked for clarification on the recommendation from the IWG on the proposed start time for Full Council meetings.

The Chief Executive provided clarification and outlined the discussions held at the two meetings of the IWG and advised that there was no agreement reached for either a 4.30 pm or 6 pm start time.  In conclusion, the Chief Executive drew Members’ attention to page 81, section 2 Findings of the IWG and invited the Panel to put forward a recommendation that could be include in the report to Cabinet.

The Chair proposed that the Panel recommend page 81 as outlined by the Chief Executive.

Councillor Mrs Spikings sought clarification and added she did not support the recommendation.

The Chief Executive explained that 6 pm was referred to in the minutes of the second meeting of the IWG when some members of the IWG were not present, page 81 of the report stated that the question to the Panel was there any recommendation they wished to put forward to Cabinet as the IWG minutes did not agree a start time for Panel or Full Council meetings.

Councillor Mrs Spikings and asked if she could propose 4.30 pm start time for Full Council.  The Chair asked Councillor Mrs Spikings if she wished to press ahead with her amendment.  Councillor Mrs Spikings confirmed that she did.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed  that the Panel could determine to override the findings of the IWG.

Councillor Nash commented that the general public could not always attend a meeting before 6 pm and added that he supported a 6 pm start time and would vote against the amendment.

Councillor Mrs Nockolds stated that the statement made by Councillor Nash regarding attendance by members of the public was not substantiated and explained that other Councils held meetings at 10 am and members of the public attended.

Councillor Nash commented that the above point was taken.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor de Whalley commented that his perception of public participation fell away as a consequence of the Pandemic and social changes as the population moved out of the Pandemic will see more in the way of public attendance at Council meetings and added that he had encountered difficulties with employers as they had not understood other government related activities.  In conclusion, Councillor de Whalley stated that it was not just for this Administration but in May 2023 following the Elections there might be a different set out Councillors in post and it would therefore be wrong for the current Councillors to make it more difficult for candidates to stand as Councillors.

Councillor Hudson explained that if a member of the public was not able to attend a meeting in person then they could watch on You Tube at their own convenience and therefore did not require time off work to attend a meeting.  Councillor Hudson added that any potential candidate standing for Election should take into account the roles and responsibilities as would be expected if applying for any job.  Councillor Hudson stated that 4.30 pm had been an acceptable time for Panels to meet, if a Panel did not want to meet at 4.30 pm they could determine their own start time and the only meeting which had to be set in perpetuity was Full Council.

The Leader addressed the Panel and explained that Councillors over the period of 4 years had been faced with the Pandemic and could not hold face to face meetings but met via Zoom/Teams commencing at different times.  The Leader advised that there were not many meetings left until the May 2023 election and that any recommendations put forward setting times would put a requirement on the class of 2023 when a number of Councillors were voluntarily retiring, not elected or in difference places and commented that if the Panel could not agree the recommendations from the IWG which seemed to be the case, should the Council continue operating under the current arrangements if there was no recommendation from the Panel the item possibly placed on the Cabinet Forward Decisions List/Panel Work Programme following the May 2023 Election.

The Chair referred to 2.5 – The IWG considered the start time for Full Council meetings.  There was no agreement by the IWG on a recommended start time and asked the Panel if it wished to insert an additional sentence along the lines of CPP would however like to recommend to Cabinet that Full Council meetings start at 4.30 pm.

The Panel voted on the amendment set out above proposed by Councillor Mrs Spikings, seconded by Councillor Mrs Nockolds. The vote was carried (7 votes for, 3 against).

RESOLVED:  The Panel recommended to Cabinet that Full Council meetings commence at 4.30 pm.