Agenda item

To inform Council of the outcome of a review of the allocation of seats to political groups carried out in accordance with Section 15(1) (e) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and Regulation 17(b) and (d) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.

Following a meeting of Group Leaders held to discuss and decide the matter, Council is requested to approve the allocation to the political groups formed on Tendring District Council of seats on those bodies that are subject to the Rules of Political Proportionality (Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989).

In accordance with the wishes expressed by Group Leaders, Council will also appoint Members to serve on those bodies that are subject to the Rules of Political Proportionality (Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989).

Council was aware that, following Councillor Codling’s decision on 10 June 2024 to leave the Conservative political group, and to join the Tendring Residents’ Alliance political group*, a review of the allocation of seats to political groups on relevant Committees and Sub-Committees had needed to be carried out, in accordance with Section 15(1) (e) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and Regulation 17(c) of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.

* The Tendring Residents’ Alliance political group had subsequently changed its name to the Reform UK political group with effect from 19 June 2024.

Council, with the assistance of the contents of the Chief Executive’s report (A.9), formally conducted the review referred to above.

It was moved by Councillor M E Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Bakerand:-

RESOLVED that –

(a)    Council confirms that the political balance rules shall not be applied to the Tendring/Colchester Borders Garden Community Joint Committee and the Town & Parish Councils Standards Sub-Committee;

(b)    Council approves the review of the allocation of places on relevant Committees, as set out in Table 2 above in so far as it sets out the total number of seats on all those Committees to be allocated to political groups represented on the Council, (principle (c) of the “Principles”);

(c)   Council approves, subject to the subsequent consideration of (d) below, the number of seats on each relevant Committee to be allocated to political groups such that, for each group, their proportion of seats on individual Committees is proportionate to their overall membership on the Council (principles (c) and (d) of the “Principles”):

Table 8

(d)    That the following changes to the allocations set out in Table 8 above be approved (the relevant allocations are shown ‘*’ in Table 8):

(1) the Labour Group to have two seat on the Licensing and Registration Committee (instead of one) and no seat on the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee (instead of one);

(2)  the Tendring Independents Group to have two seats on the Licensing & Registration Committee (instead of three) and three seats on the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee (instead of two);

(3)  the Conservative Group to have two seats on the Licensing & Registration Committee (instead of three) and one seat on the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee (instead of two); and

(4)  the Reform UK Group to have two seats on the Licensing and Registration Committee (instead of one) and one seat on the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee (instead of none).

(e)    Council endorses and approves, in so far as it reflects the earlier decisions on this matter, the appointment of Members to serve on the relevant Committees et cetera, as set out in Appendix 1 to this report (A.9).

It was then moved by Councillor M E Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Bakerand:-

RESOLVED - (f) that Councillor Casey be appointed to the unallocated seats on the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Licensing and Registration Committee and the Miscellaneous Licensing Sub-Committee.