Agenda item

To decide which Committees to establish for the Municipal Year and to decide their size and terms of reference. To decide the numerical allocation of seats to political groups on Committees in accordance with the political balance rules and to make appointments to the Committees.

·         Scrutiny Committee

·         Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

·         Planning Committee

·         Licensing Committee

·         Employment Committee

Councillors considered the report to decide which Committees to establish for the Municipal Year and to decide their size and terms of reference. The numerical allocation of seats to political groups on Committees in accordance with the political balance rules had been calculated and they had made their proposed appointments to the Committees.

·         Scrutiny Committee

·         Audit, Governance and Standards Committee

·         Planning Committee

·         Licensing Committee

·         Employment Committee

During the discussion of this item, Members made comments and statements and asked questions which included:-

·         Councillor Lisgo raised a question as to whether the Scrutiny arrangements were appropriate and whether they would be looked at, as under the former Taunton Deane Borough Council there had been two Scrutiny Committees, and under the new administration’s desire to look at Climate Change in depth this could take up a lot of time in itself.

·         Councillor Mansell and Weston supported Councillor Lisgo’s comments but Councillor Weston also suggested a committee focused entirely on Climate Change and it’s cross-cutting impact.

·         Councillor Mansell referred back to his motion passed earlier in the year on the Climate Emergency Declaration which did make reference to a Working Group being set up which would need to be established.

·         The Monitoring Officer advised that the government had just released some new statutory guidance on Scrutiny which we would be planning to report back to Councillors on Scrutiny at the earliest opportunity.

·         The Leader, Councillor Smith-Roberts, sympathised with the Councillors concerns having chaired Scrutiny previously, the time it takes to properly debate issues. She would speak to the Leadership team and the Monitoring Officer to keep a track on this and see if it is working or not.

     RESOLVED that the nominations for Committee seats made by the political groups be ratified and that the composition of the Committees be as detailed below.

Planning Substitutes: Cllr A Govier (LAB) Cllr J Hassall (LD) Cllr Caroline Ellis (LD) Cllr Sarah Wakefield (LD) Cllr Andy Pritchard (I) Cllr John Hunt (I) Cllr Loretta Whetlor (I) Cllr Craig Palmer (I) Cllr Dave Mansell (I) Cllr Andrew Hadley (C) Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew (C)

Independent Person: By law the Council is required to appoint an Independent Person to work with the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee on complaints about Councillors. Louise Somerville

Independent Members for Audit, Governance and Standards Committee: Anne Elder wishes to continue as an Independent Member of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee. There will be one vacancy – it is recommended that the Council advertise for this position Town and Parish Council reps for the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee:

The former Town and Parish Reps were contacted to see if they wanted to be on the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee and all responded positively. It is suggested that ‘first come, first served’ basis be applied and that Bryn Wilson and Sally de Renzy-Martin be appointed from the list below: 1. Bryn Wilson – Wiveliscombe Parish Council 2. Sally de Renzy-Martin – Watchet Parish Council 3. John Davis – Cutcombe Parish Council 4. Mike Marshall – Ruishton Parish Council 5. Penny Webber – Selworthy and Minehead Without Parish Council