Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2015 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

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

The Chairman advised that he had agreed to consider an urgent item raised by Mr Sharp CC on requested Position Statements at meetings of the full County Council (minute 46 refers).

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive, the purpose of which was to set out the draft recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) in relation to new electoral arrangements for Leicestershire County Council, and seek agreement to a County Council response to those recommendations. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 6’ is filed with these minutes.

Some members of the Committee were of the view that there was more than a small number of Councillors who had concerns about aspects of the LGBCE draft recommendations and therefore whilst the recommendation at paragraph 39 of the Chief Executive’s report should be approved, the word ‘small’ should be omitted from point (b).

RESOLVED:

That the LGBCE be advised that:-

a)    The County Council accepts the draft recommendations and wishes to make no comment or objections thereto;

b)    The County Council is aware that a number of members have concerns regarding the detail about some of the redrawn boundaries and that those members will be making representation to the LGBCE directly.

The Committee considered this matter, the Chairman having decided that it was of an urgent nature due to concerns with the operation of the current system at a recent meeting of the County Council.

With the agreement of the Chairman, Mr. R. Sharp CC addressed the Committee, stating that it was of value for members of the opposition to be able to request Position Statements at County Council meetings particularly with regard to topical issues. He noted that there were concerns with the way the system had operated at County Council meetings, however, he was of the view that it would be more constructive to improve the existing procedures for requested Position Statements rather than abolish the system altogether.

RESOLVED:

(a)    That Mr. R. Sharp CC be asked to produce draft wording to propose a formalisation of the procedure for requested Position Statements at meetings of the full County Council, and that the draft wording be circulated to the political groups for their consideration;

(b)    That the issue of requested Position Statements at meetings of the full County Council be considered at a future meeting of the Constitution Committee.