Issue - meetings

“The way in which the County Council governs itself is a subject which should be carefully considered and regularly reviewed.  The selection of our Chairman and Vice-Chairman is particularly important, as we all rely on the Councillor in the Chair to bring at least some semblance of order and civility to all our proceedings, and to help us get our job as a Council done.

The current arrangements for the selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman, involving rotation of the posts between the 3 main political groups, have currently been in place for 6 years (having been set up many years ago, with a 4-year interregnum between 2009 and 2013) and so the time is right for us to consider whether they work well or could perhaps be improved.  

Council asks the Leader of the Council to set up a cross-party group to look at how our Chairman and Vice-Chairman are selected, and if necessary to make recommendations to the Council for change, bearing in mind that any choice is always subject to the overriding requirement for the Council to accept any nomination.”

With the consent of Council, Councillor Atkins moved her motion, amended at the suggestion of Councillor Brighouse as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

“The way in which the County Council governs itself is a subject which should be carefully considered and regularly reviewed.  The selection of our Chairman and Vice-Chairman is particularly important, as we all rely on the Councillor in the Chair to bring at least some semblance of order and civility to all our proceedings, and to help us get our job as a Council done.

The current arrangements for the selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman, involving rotation of the posts between the 3 main political groups, have currently been in place for 6 years (having been set up many years ago, with a 4-year interregnum between 2009 and 2013) and so the time is right for us to consider whether they work well or could perhaps be improved.  

Council asks the Leader of the Council to set up a cross-party group to look at how our Chairman and Vice-Chairman are selected, and if necessary, to make recommendations to the Council for change, bearing in mind that any choice is always subject to the overriding requirement for the Council to accept any nomination.” consider changes to the current arrangements of selecting the Chair and vice Chair as part of the normal constitution review.

The motion as amended was agreed nem con.

“The way in which the County Council governs itself is a subject which should be carefully considered and regularly reviewed.  The selection of our Chairman and Vice-Chairman is particularly important, as we all rely on the Councillor in the Chair to bring at least some semblance of order and civility to all our proceedings, and to help us get our job as a Council done.

The current arrangements for the selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman, involving rotation of the posts between the 3 main political groups, have currently been in place for 6 years (having been set up many years ago, with a 4-year interregnum between 2009 and 2013) and so the time is right for us to consider whether they work well or could perhaps be improved.  

Council asks the Leader of the Council to consider changes to the current arrangements of selecting the Chair and vice Chair as part of the normal constitution review.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Atkins moved and Councillor Gawrysiak seconded a motion, amended at the suggestion of Councillor Brighouse as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:

“The way in which the County Council governs itself is a subject which should be carefully considered and regularly reviewed.  The selection of our Chairman and Vice-Chairman is particularly important, as we all rely on the Councillor in the Chair to bring at least some semblance of order and civility to all our proceedings, and to help us get our job as a Council done.

The current arrangements for the selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman, involving rotation of the posts between the 3 main political groups, have currently been in place for 6 years (having been set up many years ago, with a 4-year interregnum between 2009 and 2013) and so the time is right for us to consider whether they work well or could perhaps be improved.  

Council asks the Leader of the Council to set up a cross-party group to look at how our Chairman and Vice-Chairman are selected, and if necessary, to make recommendations to the Council for change, bearing in mind that any choice is always subject to the overriding requirement for the Council to accept any nomination.” consider changes to the current arrangements of selecting the Chair and vice Chair as part of the normal constitution review.

In summing up, Councillor Atkins announced her intention to resign as a County Councillor before the next Meeting of Full Council.  She thanked the Council for its support and paid tribute to fellow County Councillors.

Following debate, the motion as amended was agreed put to the vote and was carried nem con.

RESOLVED: (nem con)

“The way in which the County Council governs itself is a subject which should be carefully considered and regularly reviewed.  The selection of our Chairman and Vice-Chairman is particularly important, as we all rely on the Councillor in the Chair to bring at least some semblance of order and civility to all our proceedings, and to help us get our job as a Council done.

The current arrangements for the selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman, involving rotation of the posts between the 3 main political groups, have currently been in place for 6 years (having been set up many years ago, with a 4-year interregnum between 2009 and 2013) and so the time is right for us to consider whether they work well or could perhaps be improved.  

Council asks the Leader of the Council to consider changes to the current arrangements of selecting the Chair and vice Chair as part of the normal constitution review.