To consider report CFO/040/18 of the Monitoring Officer:

(a)  informing Members of:-

(i)            the minimum legal structure of the Authority

(ii)          the existing decision making structure of the Authority; and

(iii)         optional variations to the existing structure

(b)  requesting that the Authority determines an appropriate decision making structure for 2018/19; and

(c)  requesting that arrangements are made for the appointment of Committees, the nomination of Chairs, the determination of the powers and duties of Committees, the appointment of Members to Committees; and Special Responsibility Roles.

Members considered Report CFO/040/18 of the Monitoring Officer, concerning the Structure of the Authority for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

Members were provided with an overview of the report, which outlined the current Authority decision making structure; and detailed the proposed changes to the structure for the forthcoming Municipal Year, which were mainly concerned with the Authority’s Scrutiny arrangements.

Members were advised that scrutiny is an important aspect, required by the National Framework and the new Inspection regime. Therefore, it is proposed that the current scrutiny arrangements will change, with the Audit & Scrutiny Sub-Committee being separated into two Committees – one for Audit functions and one for Scrutiny functions. All other Committees will remain the same.

With regards to the proposed Scrutiny Committee, Members were informed that this will consist of nine Members (plus the Independent Person, should they be minded to approve continuation of this role).

In terms of the nine Members, it is proposed that they consist of four Lead Members, 3 newly appointed Members, plus a Liberal Democrat Member and the Conservative Member, so that each political party is represented.

Rather than have an appointed Chair, it is proposed that the chairing of the Committee will be rotated between each of the four Lead Members, whose role will also include supporting the development of the newly appointed Members.

It is proposed that the four Lead Members will each be aligned to a specific remit – one for Operational Response, one for Operational Preparedness, one for Community Risk Management; and one for People; and that there will be four meetings of the Scrutiny Committee each year, with each meeting focusing on one of the four service areas, with the relevant Lead Member chairing their specific meeting. 

Members were informed that if the new approach is approved, scrutiny will be aligned to the objectives contained within the Integrated Risk Management Plan, with lead officers for the functions providing relevant support. Also, draft Terms of Reference for the Scrutiny Committee, have been included within the draft Constitution for 2018/19.

Members Resolved that:

(a)  The following decision making structure of the Authority and appointments to roles and Committees for 2018/19, be approved:

Chair of Authority:                                        Cllr. Les Byrom

Vice-Chair of the Authority                                    Cllr. Sharon Sullivan                                 

Labour: Group Leader:                                            Cllr. Les Byrom

Liberal Democrat: Opposition Spokesperson:    Cllr. Andrew Makinson

Conservative: Opposition Spokesperson:           Cllr. Lesley Rennie

(b)  Should Members be unable to attend a meeting they are appointed to, they are to arrange for an appropriate alternate Member to attend on their behalf, to ensure correct political balance; and inform Democratic Services of such representatives prior to the start of the relevant meeting.