Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 17 September 2003, were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions hadeen received under Standing Order 7(3) and (5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive presenting the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances.  A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the County Council be recommended to approve the recommendations as set out in the report of the Independent Panel on Members Allowances.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive presenting the draft recommendations of the Boundary Committee in relation to the Periodic Electoral Review of Leicestershire County Council published on 24 February 2004.  A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Committee was advised of the Boundary Committee’s definition of coterminosity which it was believed was not made clear in the Electoral Commission’s Guidance and Procedural Advice.  Officers were therefore proposing to draw this issue to the attention of the Boundary Committee.

 

Mr. Jones commented that he was strongly in favour of single member electoral divisions as a matter of principle and therefore believed that representations and proposals should be put to the Boundary Committee which maintained that principle.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)    That a further meeting of this Committee be held on 21 April 2004 to determine the County Council’s response, and that Members be invited to submit any comments which they wish the Committee to take into account by 14 April 2004;

 

(b)    That it be agreed that, in the meantime, Members should approach officers direct with a view to preparing possible alternative proposals for consideration by the Committee, on the basis that any approaches should be through or with the agreement of the relevant Group Leader;

 

(c)     That the possibility of meeting with a representative of the Boundary Committee be not pursued.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive presenting proposals for the establishment of Overview and Scrutiny Committees relating to the Health Service, together with the necessary amendments to the County Council’s Constitution to give effect to those proposals.  A copy of the report marked D is filed with these minutes.

 

Officers undertook to circulate the list of County Council Members who were eligible to serve on health scrutiny bodies to the Chairman and Group Spokesmen.

 

It was moved by Mr. Parsons and seconded by Mr. Miller:-

 

“(a)   That the County Council be recommended:

 

(i)      to approve the proposals set out in the report for the establishment of overview and scrutiny committees relating to the Health Service;

 

(ii)     to approve the proposed changes to the Cabinet’s Constitution set out in Appendix B of the report subject to the following amendment and such amendments as may be necessary to give effect to the proposals relating to the allocation of Chairmanships as detailed in paragraph (b) below:

 

         ‘Add following the words at the end of paragraph 7.09(a):

 

         “which deals with County Council functions” ’.

 

(iii)    to authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman and Spokesman of this Committee to take such action as may be necessary in relation to the establishment of a joint committee with Leicester City Council and Rutland Council to review and scrutinise the activities of local health bodies with responsibility for health service functions across the area of the three authorities.

 

(b)    That in relation to Committee Chairmanship:-

 

(i)      it be noted that Chairmanship of the proposed Joint Committee will be a matter to be agreed with Leicester City and Rutland Councils;

 

(ii)      Chairmanship of the Health Scrutiny Committee be determined by the Committee itself;

 

(iii)      Chairmanship of the PCT based Sub Committees be determined using the d’Hondt procedure as explained in the report.”

 

An amendment was moved by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr. Galton:-

 

That paragraphs (b) (ii) and 6(iii) be deleted from the motion and the following inserted in its place:-

 

“(ii)      Chairmanship of the Health Scrutiny Committee and its four Subcommittees to be determined using the d’Hondt procedure as explained in the report.”

 

The amendment was put and not carried, two members voting for the amendment and three against.

 

The original motion was put and carried.

 

 

 

 

 

11 March 2004

2.00pm – 2.50pm                                                                CHAIRMAN