Agenda item - Review of Political Balance

Report of the Chief Executive (copy attached).

26.2         Councillor J. Kitcat introduced the report and noted that it was a legal requirement to review the allocations of seats across the committees following a change to the political make-up of the council.  He wished to welcome Councillor Daniel as the newly elected Member for Hanover & Elm Grove Ward; and noted that the Council remained in a position of no overall control and hoped that the development of cross-party working and collaboration would continue so that the interests of the City could be put first and party politics second.

26.3         Councillor Morgan thanked the Leader for his comments and stated that he was delighted to welcome Councillor Daniel to the council.  He also stated that the position of the Green Group as a minority administration remained and whilst there was an onus for the parties to work constructively together, there would be no formal pacts or deals with the Labour & Co-operative Group.

26.4         Councillor G. Theobald welcomed Councillor Daniel to the chamber and stated that he had supported the need for the late report as it reflected the change in the political make-up of the council and the need to make the committees proportionate.  He had previously argued that the Policy & Resources Committee should not have been in the control of the Administration and so welcomed the change and would await the outcome that would inevitably follow.

26.5         Councillor Fitch welcomed the report and noted the change in the political make-up of the council.

26.6         Councillor Kitcat noted the comments and stated that the council faced a number of serious challenges in the next few years and hoped that councillors could work collaboratively for the benefit of and in the interests of the city.

26.7         The Mayor noted that the report had been moved and put the recommendations to the vote.

26.8         RESOLVED:

(1)         That the allocation of seats as detailed in the report and in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

(2)         That the revised memberships of the Policy & Resources,  Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committees and Overview and Scrutiny Committee be agreed as follows:

(a)         Policy & Resources Committee on the basis of: 4 Green, 3 Conservative and 3 Labour & Co-operative Members;

(b)         Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on the basis of: 4 Green, 3 Conservative and 3 Labour & Co-operative Members.

(c)         Overview & Scrutiny Committee: on the basis of 4 Green, 4 Conservative and 2 Labour & Co-operative Members.

(3)         That the retention of the current arrangements regarding the Personnel Appeals Panel, the Urgency sub-Committees and the seats allocated to the Independent Member as alternative arrangements in accordance with regulation 20 of the Local Authorities (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 be agreed.