Council
Agenda Item 10
Subject: Review of Political Balance 2026/27
Date of meeting: 21 May 2026
Ward(s) affected: All
Green Group Amendment
That the
relevant changes are made to the following paragraphs and
appendices as shown below in strikethrough and
bold
italics:
2.1 That Council appoints its committees with the sizes and allocation of seats between political groups as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
2.2 That having received nominations to the committees from the 4 political groups, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, such nominations be agreed, and the committee places filled accordingly.
2.3 That those Members listed as Chair, Deputy Chair and Opposition Spokesperson of the respective committees and sub-committees in Appendix 2 be appointed to those positions, save that the Chairs of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee, and the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee are appointed by the Council’s opposition parties.
2.4 That an Urgency Sub-Committee for each Committee be appointed, by that Committee, in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 5, such Urgency Sub-Committees being politically balanced but not to be included in the total number of seats for the purpose of allocating seats.
2.5 That it is agreed that for the purpose of enabling Licensing Panels to be convened without disproportionate difficulty, the make-up of such Panels need not be politically proportionate.
2.6 The Council agrees that although the Licensing Panel has the Members referred to in Appendix 2 as the standing Members, where any of the 3 Members are not available any Member of the Licensing Committee who has received the appropriate training shall be eligible to sit on the Licensing Panel.
2.7 That the Head of Democratic Services be authorized to set up the Panel(s), as and when needed with the permanent Members or, where any of them is not available, by including any other eligible Member of the Council or Committee as appropriate, having regard to the need, where possible, to secure cross party representation.
2.8 That Council notes the arrangements set out at recommendations 2.5-2.7 relating to Licensing Panels are intended to operate as “alternative arrangements” pursuant to section 17 of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 and Regulation 20 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.
2.9 That Council appoints/reappoints Members/representatives to various bodies as listed in Appendix 3 of the report.
2.10 That the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to make any in-year changes to appointments, following consultation with the Leader (and any additional Member consultation considered appropriate).
2.11 That the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to the implementation of the recommendations in this report and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend and republish the Council’s constitutional documents to incorporate the changes.
Paragraph 2 to read as follows if carried:
2.1 That Council appoints its committees with the sizes and allocation of seats between political groups as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
2.2 That having received nominations to the committees from the 4 political groups, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, such nominations be agreed, and the committee places filled accordingly.
2.3 That those Members listed as Chair, Deputy Chair and Opposition Spokesperson of the respective committees and sub-committees in Appendix 2 be appointed to those positions, save that the Chairs of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee, and the Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee are appointed by the Council’s opposition parties.
2.4 That an Urgency Sub-Committee for each Committee be appointed, by that Committee, in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 5, such Urgency Sub-Committees being politically balanced but not to be included in the total number of seats for the purpose of allocating seats.
2.5 That it is agreed that for the purpose of enabling Licensing Panels to be convened without disproportionate difficulty, the make-up of such Panels need not be politically proportionate.
2.6 The Council agrees that although the Licensing Panel has the Members referred to in Appendix 2 as the standing Members, where any of the 3 Members are not available any Member of the Licensing Committee who has received the appropriate training shall be eligible to sit on the Licensing Panel.
2.7 That the Head of Democratic Services be authorized to set up the Panel(s), as and when needed with the permanent Members or, where any of them is not available, by including any other eligible Member of the Council or Committee as appropriate, having regard to the need, where possible, to secure cross party representation.
2.8 That Council notes the arrangements set out at recommendations 2.5-2.7 relating to Licensing Panels are intended to operate as “alternative arrangements” pursuant to section 17 of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 and Regulation 20 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.
2.9 That Council appoints/reappoints Members/representatives to various bodies as listed in Appendix 3 of the report.
2.10 That the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to make any in-year changes to appointments, following consultation with the Leader (and any additional Member consultation considered appropriate).
2.11 That the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer be authorised to take all steps necessary or incidental to the implementation of the recommendations in this report and that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend and republish the Council’s constitutional documents to incorporate the changes.
*
NB: Should the amendment be agreed, the following Members be appointed as Chairs of the respective Overview & Scrutiny Committees: