Agenda and minutes

Democracy & Organisation Committee - Thursday, 29 April 2010

Venue: County Hall

Contact: Geoff Malcolm Tel: (01865) 815904; E-Mail: geoff.malcolm@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Items

No.

Item

Election of Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year

Minutes:

Councillor Anne Purse moved and Councillor Roz Smith seconded that Councillor Roz Smith be elected Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

Councillor Lovatt then moved and Councillor Billington seconded that Councillor Owen be elected Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

RESOLVED: (Councillor Roz Smith having received 2 votes and Councillor Owen having received 7 votes) that Councillor Owen be elected Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

Election of Deputy Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year

Minutes:

Councillor Anne Purse moved and Councillor Roz Smith seconded that Councillor Roz Smith be elected Deputy Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

Councillor Badcock then moved and Councillor Gibbard seconded that Councillor Lovatt be elected Deputy Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

RESOLVED: (Councillor Roz Smith having received 2 votes and Councillor Lovatt having received 7 votes) that Councillor Lovatt be elected Deputy Chairman for the 2010/11 Council Year.

Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence

Temporary Appointments

Councillor Maurice Billington

Councillor Liz Brighouse OBE

Minutes PDF 63 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 August 2009 (DO5) and to receive for information any matters arising therefrom.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 August 2009 (DO5) were approved and signed subject to the commencement time being amended to 2.00pm and the list of those present amended to show apologies for absence from Councillor Lynda Atkins.

Subordinate Bodies

The Committee is asked to note that the following existing subordinate bodies fall within the responsibility of this Committee:

Appeals Sub-Committee (3)

Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Deputy Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Opposition Group Spokesman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Appointment Sub-Committee (Variable) (6)

Six Councillors at least one of whom must be a member of the Cabinet

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Fire Service Discipline Sub-Committee (3)

Three Councillors at least one of whom must be a member of the Cabinet

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gradings Sub-Committee (3)

Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Deputy Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Opposition Group Spokesman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pension Benefits Sub-Committee (3)

Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Deputy Chairman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

Opposition Group Spokesman of Democracy & Organisation Committee

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Minutes:

RESOLVED: to note that the existing subordinate bodies as set out in the Agenda fell within the responsibility of this Committee.

Scale of Fees for County Council Elections and Referenda 2010/11 PDF 68 KB

The Assistant Head of Legal & Democratic Services reports as follows:-

Each year the Council sets a scale of expenditure for the holding of elections of county councillors. The Committee is requested to approve the proposed Scale of Expenditure as set out for any by-elections of County Councillors that may be held during the financial year 2010/11 (DO8).

The proposed fees for 2010/11 are based on a 0.5 per cent increase on the previous year’s scale. The mileage rate is linked to the national authorised ‘all car’ rate. There is no indication that this national rate will change for 2010, so it is proposed that the mileage rate for elections in 2010/11 remains unchanged.

Also included is the Scale of Expenditure for any referendum or mayoral election required to be held under the Local Government Act 2000. These vary from the scale for elections only to the extent that the fees for some elements cannot be based on individual electoral divisions, but the County as a whole.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:-

(a) approve the Scale of Expenditure for the financial year 2010/2011 for the election of County Councillors; and

(b) approve the Scale of Expenditure for the financial year 2010/2011 for a referendum or mayoral election required under the Local Government Act 2000.

Minutes:

Each year the Council set a scale of expenditure for the holding of elections of county councillors. The Committee considered the proposed Scale of Expenditure as set out for any by-elections of County Councillors that may be held during the financial year 2010/11 (DO8).

Ms Dunn introduced the report and responded to questions and comments. The proposed fees for 2010/11 were based on a 0.5 per cent increase on the previous year’s scale. The mileage rate was linked to the national authorised ‘all car’ rate. There was no indication that this national rate would change for 2010, so it was proposed that the mileage rate for elections in 2010/11 remained unchanged.

Also included was the Scale of Expenditure for any referendum or mayoral election required to be held under the Local Government Act 2000. These varied from the scale for elections only to the extent that the fees for some elements could not be based on individual electoral divisions, but the County as a whole.

RESOLVED: (unanimously) to

(a) approve the Scale of Expenditure for the financial year 2010/2011 for the election of County Councillors; and

(b) approve the Scale of Expenditure for the financial year 2010/2011 for a referendum or mayoral election required under the Local Government Act 2000.