Issue - meetings

Details of the proposed nominations will be circulated prior to the commencement of the Meeting.

The Council considered a draft motion and schedule indicating the nominations submitted by the three political groups for the Membership of the Cabinet, Committees, Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Spokespersons for 2008/09, which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Robertson:

That the meeting be adjourned to allow the Leaders of the three political groups to discuss the political conventions of the Council.

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the motion was not carried by 31 votes to 26.

At this point, the Legal Director requested that the meeting be adjourned for a short period, to allow her to speak to the Leaders.

Upon their return to the Council Chamber the meeting resumed.

It was then moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Blackburn:

That:

(1)      Councillor Robertson as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, be appointed as the Leader of the Council;

(2)      the Cabinet and Spokespersons comprising the Members set out in the schedule circulated prior to the meeting be appointed for 2008/09 to take effect from the date of this meeting; and

(3)      the Committees, Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Spokespersons comprising the Members set out in the schedule circulated prior to the meeting be appointed for 2008/09, to take effect from the date of this meeting.

At this point, an amendment was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher:

1.       that the Council appoint to 9 of the 10 seats on the Cabinet on a proportionate basis of 3:3:3;

2.       that the post of Cabinet Member - Performance be suspended and not filled and the duties, delegations and responsibilities of the portfolio be temporarily assigned to the Leader pending a further review of the Cabinet membership, composition, duties and responsibilities at a future date;

3.       that the Legal Director submit a report to a future meeting of the Council on the creation of two Deputy Leader posts, who shall be the Leaders of the two Opposition Groups;

4.       that the Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Substitutes of the following Committees as shown in the schedule be replaced by Members of the following Groups and that the Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Substitutes shown, serve as ordinary members thereof:

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) - Conservatives to replace Liberal Democrats

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) - Labour to replace Liberal Democrats

·         Audit and Governance Committee - Labour to replace Liberal Democrats

Following on from this, it was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:  

That the meeting be adjourned to allow the Leaders of the three Political Groups to discuss the amendment and the political conventions of the Council.

Following an adjournment of 1 hour 20 minutes, the meeting resumed and a debate took place on the amendment.

During the debate, the requisite number of Members having signified their wish that the voting on the amendment should be recorded, in accordance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106