12.1 Members are asked to note (prior to considering item 12,2 below) that the Members & Democratic Services Group (2 May 2013) is due to consider the following proposal in relation to membership of the Planning Committee.
(a) That the membership within the Planning Committee Terms of Reference be amended to read “15 members of the Council (including, with the exception of the Cabinet Member for Environment, up to 3 Cabinet Members) who shall not be members of the Conservation Advisory Group or of the Green Belt Forum”
(b) That as a consequence of (a) above the Planning Committee Code of Conduct (Part 5 Chapter 5.2 of Constitution) should also be amended as follows:
(i) Section (12) protocol for Cabinet Member for Business & Regeneration to attend Planning Committee –be amended to include - “This protocol will not apply if the Cabinet Member is appointed to serve as a formal member of the Planning Committee, in which case he/she will be entitled to attend meetings, participate in deliberations and vote as a normal member of the Committee.”
(ii) To include, as a new section - Protocol for Cabinet Members appointed to serve on the Planning Committee
“Up to 3 members of the Cabinet will (with the exception of the Cabinet Member whose remit covers Environment) will be permitted to serve as members of the Planning Committee. The appointment of these members will be undertaken as part of the normal Committee Membership approval process at Annual Council each year, with any subsequent change in membership having to be agreed through Council.
When acting as a member of the Planning Committee, Cabinet Members will need to recognise that they will be acting in a different capacity to that of an Executive Member, as planning is treated as a Council rather than Executive function of the Authority. As such they will need to have received the appropriate training before taking up their role and will also need to be mindful of any potential interests that may arise from their role on Cabinet in order to avoid any issues around predetermination e.g. Cabinet making decisions on significant property developments which then require planning approval. The advice of the Monitoring Officer should be sought in the case of any uncertainty.”
Subject to agreement by the Members & Democratic Service Group, Council will be asked to approve the above recommendations in order for the changes to take effect from the start of the new Municipal Year.
The report relating to this item has been circulated to all members as Item 3 (Report No.223) on the agenda for the Members & Democratic Services Group. An update on the decision made by the Members & Democratic Services Group will be provided at the Council meeting.
12.2 To establish Council bodies for the coming Municipal Year and to appoint memberships to these (see list on yellow). TO FOLLOW
12.3 To confirm the Terms of Reference of those bodies set out in Part 2 of the Constitution (pages 2-11 to 2-17 for scrutiny) (pages 2-23 to 2-24 for cabinet) and (pages 2-25 to 2-54 for other committees and panels).
Minutes:
1.1 Appointment of Council Bodies 2013/14: Planning Committee membership
NOTED that the provisional reference from the Members & Democratic Services Group, regarding membership of the Planning Committee had been withdrawn from the agenda. The withdrawal followed the Members & Democratic Services Group on 2 May 13, when it had been agreed that a more detailed membership review of the Committee be undertaken, for reporting back later in the year.
1.2 Appointment of Council Bodies 2013/14: Committee Membership list
AGREED to the establishment of the Council bodies for the 2013/14 Municipal Year and appointment of their memberships, as set out in the yellow list tabled at the meeting, subject to the following amendment:
a. Green Belt Forum: Councillor East to replace Councillor D.Pearce.
1.3 Appointment of Council Bodies 2013/14: Terms of Reference
AGREED To confirm the Terms of Reference of those bodies set out in Part 2 of the Constitution (pages 2-11 to 2-17 for scrutiny) (pages 2-23 to 2-24 for cabinet) and (pages 2-25 to 2-54 for other committees and panels).