Agenda item

To consider various issues concerning the Council’s political management structure and the Constitution for 2022/23.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Council considered various matters relating to the Member level decision making structure of the Council and the Council’s constitution for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

1.          That the Terms of Reference, as detailed in the appendices to the report; and the size and political composition for the following bodies that form the non-Executive Member level decision making structure of the Council be approved subject to the rules of proportionality where appropriate for 100 Committee places where applicable (relevant Committees are identified thus*) -

·        Overview and Scrutiny Committee* (Appendix A) – 14 Members (9 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group,  2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Community Select Committee* (Appendix B) – 10 Members (6 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Environment and Economy Select Committee* (Appendix C) – 11 Members (7 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Planning & Development Committee* (Appendix D) – 14 Members (9 Labour & Co-operative Group, 3 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Licensing Committee (Appendix E) – 14 Members (8 Labour & Co-operative Group, 4 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        General Purposes Committee* (Appendix F) – 14 Members (8 Labour & Co-operative Group,  4 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Appointments Committee* (Appendix G) -  8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Standards Committee* (Appendix H) – 8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Audit Committee* (Appendix I) – 10 Members (6 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 2 Liberal Democrat Group) + 1 Co-opted non-elected member

·        Statement of Accounts Committee* (Appendix J) – 8 Members (5 Labour & Co-operative Group, 2 Conservative Group, 1 Liberal Democrat Group)

·        Joint Consultative Committee* (Appendix K) – 3 Members (2 Labour & Co-operative Group, 1 Conservative Group)

* Indicates where those bodies covered by the rules of proportionality for the purposes of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups), Regulations 1990 – total Committee places being 100

2.     That the membership of the Executive and the individual Portfolios, as set out in the lilac paper circulated at the meeting, be noted.

3.     That the various Executive bodies appointed by the Leader, detailed in Paragraph 4.3 of the report and the relevant Terms of Reference for each body set out in Appendix L to the report, be noted.

4.     That the dates for Council meetings for the Municipal Year 2022/23, as shown at Paragraph 4.6 of the report, be approved, and that the calendar of formal meetings shown at Appendix M to the report, be noted.

5.     That the substantive amendments to Standing Orders arising as a consequence of the motion approved by Council on 9 March 2022, as set out in Paragraphs 4.10 of the report, be noted and approved.

6.     That the inclusion of a substitution scheme (as Standing Order 28), as set out in Paragraph 4.11 and in Appendix N to the report, be noted and approved.

7.     That the following minor and consequential amendments to Standing Orders, required:

·        for the good conduct of Council meetings,

·        as a consequence of the substantive changes at 5. and 6. above, and

·        to include appropriate reference to the Hertfordshire Growth Board within the Constitution,

as set out in Paragraph 4.12 of the report, be noted and approved.

8.     That the Executive’s intention to establish a joint Executive Committee with East Herts District Council to support the oversight, development and delivery of the Council’s joint ICT strategy, as set out in Paragraph 4.13 and with the terms of reference as detailed in Appendix O to the report, be noted.