Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Lee and Melanie Stevens.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions that are not specific to reports on the agenda must have been received in writing 10 working days before the date of the meeting - by 5pm on 12^th May 2022. 

Questions specifically on reports on the agenda should be received within two working days of the normal publication date of the agenda.  Please ensure that questions specifically on reports on the agenda are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Friday 20^th May 2022.

No questions had been received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th April 2022 be confirmed.

Report CSD22067

The Committee, on behalf of the Council, considered the appointment of Council representatives to serve on a range of outside bodies and partnerships. Most appointments were made annually, following the municipal year, but a small number of appointments were for three or four year terms of office. A schedule of nominations was circulated before the meeting.

RESOLVED that the appointments set out in Appendix A to these minutes be confirmed.

Report CSD22068

The Committee received updates on matters outstanding from previous meetings, and considered its work programme for 2022/23.

In terms of matters outstanding, it was noted that there was no further update on Emma Raducanu, so the Chairman suggested that this did not need to be reported unless there was any progress. An update on the issue of hybrid meetings was due at the next meeting.

The Committee received an annual report each autumn on formal complaints including complaints referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. A Member suggested that the Committee should review a much wider range of complaints, including Fix-My-Street. Other Members commented that there was a difference between complaints and requests for service or information – most of the reports on Fix-My-Street were the latter. It was noted that Cllr Turrell, as Executive Assistant, had been asked to examine the use of Fix-My-Street.

The Committee decided to appoint working groups to consider the appointment of Honorary Aldermen and the Council’s Constitution. Proportionality was not required on working groups, but opposition Members commented that their groups needed fair representation on working groups and in outside body appointments. 

It was confirmed that there would be a training session on Licensing after the Committee’s next meeting in July.  The Committee requested that minutes of Licensing Sub-Committee meetings be reported to their meetings in future.

RESOLVED that

(1) The matters outstanding and the work programme (with comments above) be noted. 

(2) A Working Group comprising Councillors Kathy Bance, Mike Botting, Robert Evans and Pauline Tunnicliffe be appointed to consider candidates to be appointed as Honorary Aldermen.

(3) A Working Group be appointed to review the Council’s Constitution.