Report of Democratic Services Manager

Council received a report of the Democratic Services Manager requesting:

a)      that Council unanimously agrees that the Standards Committee is not politically balanced as set out in paragraph 3.3.1 of the report;

b)      that Council agrees the establishment of politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report;

c)      that Council agrees the establishment of non-politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.1.2 of the report;

d)      that Council agrees the appointment of Members to politically balanced committees as set out in paragraph 3.2.1 of the report;

e)      that Council agrees appointments to non-politically balanced committees;

f)       that Council appoints Chairs and Vice-Chairs to committees listed in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.1.2 of the report.

Councillor Asif Khan, Group Secretary of the Labour Group, informed council that Councillor Ahsan Khan had agreed to have his nomination withdrawn from the Major Projects Board.  Councillor Ahsan Khan would replace Councillor Shah as a Labour nomination for Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Councillor Shah would replace Councillor Ahsan Khan as a Labour nomination for Budget Panel.  Finally Councillor Connal had been added to the list of Labour nominations for Member Development Group.

Planning Policy Advisory Group

The Chairman informed Council that there was an under subscription of one seat on Planning Policy Advisory Group.  He asked for nominations for the remaining seat.

There were no further nominations.

Housing Policy Advisory Group

The Chairman advised that there was an under subscription of one seat on Housing Policy Advisory Group.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seat.

Councillor Collett stated that she would like to take up the vacant seat.

Digital Watford Board

The Chairman announced that there was an under subscription of one seat on Digital Watford Board.  He asked for any nominations for the remaining seat.

There were no further nominations.

The Chair moved the nominations circulated with the agenda and further updated at the meeting

On being put to Council the nominations were AGREED.

Chairs and Vice-Chairs

Budget Panel – Appointment of Chair

The Chairman requested nominations for the position of Chair of Budget Panel.  He reminded Council that the Chair had to be a member of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Asif Khan, which was seconded by Councillor Mills.

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Appointment of Vice-Chair

The Chairman asked for nominations to the position of Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Bell nominated Councillor Ahsan Khan, which was seconded by Councillor Shah.

On being put to Council the nomination was AGREED.

Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, stated that his group wished to make some amendments to the nominations for vice chairs shown within the report.  Councillor J Johnson would replace Councillor Williams as vice chair for Audit Committee and Councillor Barks would replace Councillor Collett as vice chair for Digital Watford Board.  The amendments were seconded by Councillor Williams.

On being put to Council the amendments were AGREED.

The Chairman moved the other appointments to chairs and vice chairs as circulated and further updated by Councillor Taylor.

On being put to Council the nominations were AGREED.

RESOLVED –

1.      that Council unanimously agrees that the Standards Committee is not politically balanced.

2.      that the establishment of politically balanced committees be agreed as set out in the report.

3.      that the establishment of non-politically balanced committees be agreed as set out in the report.

4.      that the appointment of members to the politically balanced committees, as amended at the meeting and set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes, be agreed.

5.      that the appointment of members to the non-politically balanced committees, as amended at the meeting and set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes, be agreed.

6.      that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs to the politically balanced and non-politically balanced committees, as amended at the meeting and set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes, be agreed.