The Deputy Mayor advised Members that in accordance with Article 17 of the procedure rules, an amendment to the recommendations had been proposed by Councillor Tim Valentine and seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney.

The Deputy Leader introduced the report and said that moving to the Committee system was an important step. He referred to Area Committees and Cabinet Advisory Committees in widening engagement and in proposing the recommendations said that Committee Structure was more transparent.  In seconding the recommendations, the Leader reserved his right to speak.

Councillor Tim Valentine proposed an amendment to the recommendations to change the date of implementation to May 2023 from May 2022.  In proposing the amendment, Councillor Valentine said that he supported moving to the Committee system but in considering officer resource, a longer lead in time was preferable.  He said implementing the Committee system earlier might be a diversion to the Council’s priorities.  Councillor Bonney seconded the motion and reserved her right to speak.

In the discussion that followed Members raised points including:

·       Why wait another year to improve democracy?;

·       the Committee system should be tested prior to 2023 new Members being elected;

·       delaying implementation was more of a diversion;

·       it was unreasonable to elect new Members at the same time as a new system;

·       some Members might not wish to stand in an election with a Committee system;

·       a delay gave officers time to deliver on priorities that had been delayed due to Covid-19;

·       should implement in 2022 or not at all;

·       Members needed to see it through;

·       was a step too far for new Members and a new system;

·       current Members needed to be responsible for their actions and decisions;

·       it was dishonest to agree the Committee system but defer the start start;

·       officer resource needed to be considered; and

·       rewriting the constitution was a big project that needed a lot of resource.

Councillor Bonney said that officers were already very overstretched and delivering on projects within the Council’s priorities would be very difficult if the Committee System was implemented in 2022 and careful management of officer resource would be needed.

In response, the Deputy Leader said he had listened to a number of different options and a number of valid points had been raised but on balance, any problems needed to be ironed out before new Members joined the Council.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 19(2), five Members requested a recorded vote, and voting was as follows:

For:  Councillors Bonney, Darby, Henderson, Gould, Jackson, Jayes, Knights, Martin, Tatton, Thomas, Valentine. Total equals 11.

Against:  Councillors Baldock,  Beart, Bowen, Carnell, S Clark, Davey, Dendor, Eakin, Fowle, Gibson, Hall, Harrison, Horton, Hunt, Ingleton, MacDonald, Marchington, Neal, Palmer, Pugh, Rowles, Saunders, Simmons, Truelove, Whelan, Whiting, Winckless, Woodford. Total equals 28.

Abstain: 0

The Deputy Mayor announced that the amendment was lost.

Members then debated the substantive recommendations. 

Under Council Procedure Rule 16 (19)(b) Councillor Ken Ingleton proposed the substantive recommendations be put to the vote.  This was seconded by Councillor Mike Whiting and on being put to the vote, this was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Council’s current lead-and-cabinet governance arrangements will be replaced with a committee system, to come into effect at the Annual Council meeting in May 2022.

(2)  That the cross-party constitution review working group continue to develop proposals with respect to the detailed working of the new system, including the number and remit of committees, for endorsement by Council between now and May 2022.