Agenda item

To consider various issues concerning the Council’s political management structure and the Constitution for 2026/27.

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 94 Committee seats where applicable (relevant Committees are identified thus*) -

·      Overview and Scrutiny Committee* (Appendix A) – 13 Members (7 Labour Members, 3 Reform Members, 2 Liberal Democrat Members and 1 Conservative Member)

·      Community Select Committee* (Appendix B) – 11 Members (6 Labour Members, 3 Reform Members and 2 Liberal Democrat Members)

·      Environment and Economy Select Committee* (Appendix C) – 11 Members (6 Labour Members, 3 Reform Members and 2 Liberal Democrat Members)

·      Planning & Development Committee* (Appendix D) – 13 Members (7 Labour Members, 3 Reform Members, 2 Liberal Democrat Members and 1 Independent Member)

·      Licensing Committee (Appendix E) – 13 Members (7 Labour Members, 4 Reform Members and 2 Liberal Democrat Members)

·      General Purposes Committee* (Appendix F) – 13 Members (7 Labour Members, 4 Reform Members and 2 Liberal Democrat Members).

·      Appointments Committee* (Appendix G) - 7 Members (4 Labour Members, 2 Reform Members and 1 Liberal Democrat Member)

·      Standards Committee* (Appendix H) – 7 Members (4 Labour Members, 1 Reform Member, 1 Liberal Democrat Member and 1 Conservative Member)

·      Audit Committee* (Appendix I) – 9 Members (5 Labour Members, 2 Reform, 1 Liberal Democrat Member and 1 Independent Member).

·      Statement of Accounts Committee* (Appendix J) – 7 Members (4 Labour Members, 2 Reform Members and 1 Liberal Democrat Member)

·           Joint Consultative Committee* (Appendix K) – 3 Members (2 Labour Members and 1 Reform Member)

* 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 94

2.    That the Borough Solicitor be authorised to make consequential amendments to the Constitution to reflect the proposal set out in Recommendation 2.1 above.

3.    That the membership of the Cabinet and the individual Portfolios, as set out at item 11 and in the green paper tabled at the meeting, be noted.

4.    That the various Cabinet bodies appointed by the Leader, detailed in Paragraph 4.4 of the report and the relevant Terms of Reference for each body set out in Appendix L to the report, be noted.

5.    That Council the dates for Council meetings for the Municipal Year 2026/27, as shown at Paragraph 4.7 of the report, be approved and that the calendar of formal meetings shown at Appendix M to the report be noted.

6.    That the amendments to the Constitution set out in Appendix N as proposed by the Monitoring Officer be approved.