Agenda item

To receive and consider the reports, minutes and recommendations of the recent meetings as follows:

(1)         Cabinet

-              19 December 2019

2)        Scrutiny Committee

-                 2 December2019

-                  6 January 2020  - (to follow)

(3)       Audit Committee

-         10 December 2019

(4)       Environment Policy Development Group

-                26 November 2019

(5)       Homes Policy Development Group

-                3 December 2019

(6)       Economy Policy Development Group

-                 28 November 2019

(7)       Community Policy Development Group

-          10 December 2019

(8)       Planning Committee

-                20 November 2019

-                17 December 2019

The Leader presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 19 December 2019

1.    Governance Review (Minute 99)

The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor G Barnell:

THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 99 be ADOPTED.

Consideration was given to:

·         The number of members on the working group

·         The timescales for the review

·         The amount of work and the time it would take to amend governance arrangements which would also require the constitution to be re-written and that there was a need to get on with the business of the council

·         The pressing need to address other important issues such as climate change

·         The cabinet system versus the committee system and which was the more democratic form of governance

·         Agreeing to a review would diminish the possibility of a referendum via a petition

·         The potential for alternative and modern governance

·         Whether the policy development groups provided inclusive decision-making and the different ways in which members could be heard

·         How the democratic process evolved and the positive benefits a review could bring

·         The informal nature of a working group meeting in private and the involvement of local stakeholders

Councillor F W Letch MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.4

‘THAT the vote in respect of this MOTION shall be by Roll Call’

A roll call of Members present at the meeting was then taken:

Those voting FOR the MOTION: Councillors: Mrs E M Andrews, G Barnell, W Burke, J Cairney, S J Clist, L J Cruwys, R M Deed, J M Downes, Mrs S Griggs, Mrs I Hill, B Holdman, D J Knowles, F W Letch, E G Luxton, L D Taylor, Ms E Wainwright, B G J Warren, A White, A Wilce, Mrs N Woollatt and J Wright

Those voting AGAINST the MOTION: Councillors E J Berry, R J Chesterton, Mrs C A Collis, Mrs F J Colthorpe, D R Coren, N V Davey, Mrs C P Daw, R B Evans, T G Hughes, B A Moore, S J Penny, D F Pugsley, R F Radford, C R Slade, Mrs M E Squires and R L Stanley.

The MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.

Note: Councillors A Wilce and Mrs N Woollatt declared personal interests as supporters of The Campaign for Democracy.

2.    Schedule of Meetings (Minute 107)

The Leader MOVED seconded by Councillor B A Moore:

THAT the recommendations of the Cabinet as set out in Minute 107 be ADOPTED.

Upon a vote being taking, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.