Venue: Goscote Committee Room, County Hall, Glenfield
Contact: Sarah Brookes (Tel: 0116 265 6226) Email: lpogson@leics.gov.uk
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Election of Chairman. Mr. D. Parsons CC was nominated Chairman elect at the County Council meeting held on 21 May, 2003. Minutes: RESOLVED: That Mr D. R. Parsons be elected
Chairman of the Committee until the date of the annual meeting of the County
Council in May 2004. Mr D. R. Parsons CC (in the Chair) |
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Appointment of Deputy Chairman. Minutes: That Mr R. Miller CC be appointed Deputy Chairman of the Committee until the date of the annual meeting of the County Council in May 2004. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2003 were taken as
read, confirmed and signed. |
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Question Time. Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been
received under Standing Order 35. |
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Questions asked under Standing Order 7(3) and (5). Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been
received under Standing Order 7(3) and (5). |
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To advise of any other items which the Chairman has decided to take as urgent. Minutes: There were no urgent items for consideration. |
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Declarations of Interest. Minutes: No declarations of interest were made. |
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Periodic Electoral Review of Leicestershire County Council. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive
inviting the Committee to make recommendations to the County Council on a
proposed scheme of electoral arrangements in response to the Boundary
Committee’s invitation to the Authority to submit proposals. The Committee also considered a
supplementary report relating to further comments and alternative proposals
received since the report had been circulated.
Copies of the report and a supplementary report marked ‘B’ and ‘BB’
respectively are filed with these minutes. The Committee discussed in turn the proposals for each of
the district areas as follows:- (a) Blaby Mr. Galton enquired why the initial
draft proposals had been amended, splitting Cosby and South Whetstone District
Ward. The Committee was advised that
this was a result of further work aimed at improving electoral equality. (b) Charnwood Several members raised concerns
regarding the splitting of Birstall Watermead Ward commenting that it had
little or no community ties with Thurmaston.
However, it was noted that no one had been able to offer any practical
alternative. (c) Harborough Mr. Galton reinforced comments which he
had made in writing regarding the need to retain the bulk of Billesdon Ward
with Tilton and Thurnby and Houghton District Wards, as proposed in the initial
draft proposals, when the new revised draft proposals combined Billesdon with
areas with which it had little or no affinity. (d) Hinckley and Bosworth The officers were requested to ensure that
the proposals affecting Burbage did not split Parish Wards. (e) Melton Members raised no issues of concern. (f) North West Leicestershire It was noted that North West
Leicestershire District Council was looking at several options but their views
would not be available until after its Council meeting on 26th June 2003. (g) Oadby and Wigston Members’ attention was drawn to a
letter from Oadby and Wigston Borough Council dated 17th June 2003. With regard to the Borough
Council’s suggestion that a two member electoral division be established for
Oadby, the Committee was advised of the guidelines issued by the Electoral
Commission which were not supportive of establishing multi-member electoral divisions
in counties. Mr. Galton indicated that in his
view the proposal to combine Oadby Grange and Oadby St. Peter’s Wards was not
sensible and that the combination of wards set out in the initial draft
proposals better reflected community ties. (h) General The Committee was advised that
the revised draft proposals attached to the report had been prepared in the
light of the various comments received and the opportunities to consider
further options. They were considered
generally to be an improvement upon the initial draft proposals having regard
to the guidelines laid down by the Electoral Commission. Although it was felt that there
was reasonable justification in the few cases where proposed divisions exceeded
the 10% level referred to in the guidelines, it was noted that the Boundary
Committee was bound to look critically at the County Council’s final proposals
and to seek to improve upon them. In
response to comments regarding the views of Parish Councils, the Chief
Executive undertook to write to all consultees, including Parish Councils, to
inform them of the outcome of this meeting and give them an opportunity to make
further representations, prior to consideration of the matter by the full
Council on 9th July 2003. It was moved by Mr. Parsons and seconded by Mr. Miller:- “(a) That the County Council be recommended:- (i) to approve the statement set out in
Appendix A to the report relating to Council size, as part of the Council’s
submission to the Boundary Committee; (ii) to approve the revised draft proposals set out ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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The Review and Revision of the Constitution and Authorisation of Officers. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive
recommending changes to the County Council’s Constitution in the light of
experience and to update the list of officers authorised to sign and seal
documents. A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes. The Chief Executive undertook to supply Mr Brown with the
Government’s Guidance on New Councils Constitutions that provided guidance on
Cabinet Support Members and commented that similar positions had been
established in several authorities. RESOLVED: That the County Council be recommended: - (a) to approve the proposed changes to the
Constitution as set out in Appendix A of the report; and (b) to agree in respect of the proper officer
functions and other delegated powers and functions allocated to the Chief
Executive and County Solicitor, that the following officers be authorised to act
in their absence:- County Solicitor (in the absence of the Chief Executive) Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Support) Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) Head of Demographic Services and Administration Head of Human Resources Head of Legal Services 18 June 2003 11.00 a.m – 12.40 p.m CHAIRMAN |