Decision details

Decision Maker: Chief Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

To decide whether to agree a Member’s reasons for non-attendance at meetings of the Council and its Committees etc.

Decision:

That Councillor Overton’s reason (namely illness) for non-attendance at meetings of the Council and its Committees etc. be approved in the event of her not attending a meeting before 7 April 2020.

Reasons for the decision:

In order to prevent Councillor Nicola Overton becoming disqualified from the office of Councillor given that the meeting of the Full Council due to have been held on 31 March 2020 was cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 public health emergency. 39 (out of 48) Members responded to the consultation, and of those, the vast majority (92.3%) supported approving Councillor Overton’s reason for non-attendance and no Councillors stated that they were not in favour. 9 Councillors either did not respond and so expressed no opinion or responded but indicated that they wished to abstain.

 

This proposed decision was also discussed at the Group Leaders’ meeting held on 20 March 2020 and there was no objection voiced.

 

Councillor Overton’s GP has certified that she is ill and that this illness is at a level where she is unfit to work for at least 11 weeks.  This will be the case up until 30 April 2020 at the earliest.

Alternative options considered:

Not to approve the reason for non-attendance. This was rejected for the reasons already stated.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None

Publication date: 03/04/2020

Date of decision: 03/04/2020

Accompanying Documents: