Agenda item

In line with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) regulations 1990, as amended, consideration was given to a report detailing the outcome of a review of the composition of the Council’s Scrutiny, Regulatory and other Committees following the resignation of 5 Members from the Labour Group and notification of the creation of a new group to be known as the New Independent Group.  Council considered a report which set out the details of the proposed membership changes received from the Labour Group and the New Independent Group.

In order to reflect the new arrangements, Council noted that the Labour Group’s representation on Committees would be reduced by 11 seats from 52 to 41, and that the New Independent Group would be entitled to an allocation of the 11 seats. Whilst, the allocation of seats to the Plaid Cymru, Independent and unaffiliated member group remained unchanged, the Independent Group would lose one Scrutiny seat to the Labour Group. 

In response to the required changes and as set out in table 2B within the report, the Labour group had agreed to relinquish one seat on the Environment and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee, Education and Children Services Scrutiny Committee, Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee and Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee.  The New Independent Group had nominated 4 members to fill their Scrutiny seats as set out in the report.

With regard to the changes impacting the Regulatory seat as set out in Table 3 within the report, the Labour Group had agreed to relinquish a seat on 6 Regulatory and other Committees.  The report sets out the nominations of Members from the Independent Group to fill Labour Groups relinquished seats.

Council noted that the New Independent Group had advised that they would not be taking up their allocation of the 2 Planning Seats, and that these seats would remain vacant until the Group advise otherwise.  In light of this, concerns were raised that the reduction of the Planning Committee membership from 20 to 18 could provide some difficulties in cases of apologies coupled with potential declarations of interest elevating the risk of an inquorate Committee.  Discussions would take place in order to identify if this issue could be resolved by the Group.

Furthermore, in accordance with Part 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, which sets out the requirements for the appointment of Persons to Chair Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Council noted that the calculation revealed one unallocated Chair which would need to be appointed by members of the relevant Committee.

The Labour Group, who were previously allocated 2 Chairs, had notified that they would relinquish the Chair of the Community Scrutiny Committee, and the Authority would therefore make arrangements for the appointment of Community Scrutiny Chair to be included on the agenda of the next Community Scrutiny Committee meeting.

RESOLVED that as a result of changes to the overall political composition of the Council,

13.1    to adopt the changes to the number of seats held by the Labour and New Independent Groups as detailed within Tables 1, 2 and 3 of the report;

13.2    to note that there are were no changes to the number of seats held by the Plaid Cymru Group, Independent Group and Unaffiliated Member;

13.3    in accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule CPR 2 (2) (n) to approve changes in Committee membership as a result of recommendation 13.1 above (as detailed within the report);

13.4    in accordance with Part 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 to note that the Community Scrutiny Chair be appointed by Members of the Community Scrutiny Committee at the next meeting.