Agenda item

(Councillor D Stallan – Chairman of Constitution and Members Services Standing Panel) To consider the attached report.

The Committee received a report from the Constitution and Member Services Scrutiny Standing Panel on their review of the operation of the new Appointments Panel set up last year. This report reviewed the experiences of last year together with some issues requiring decision on the future operation of the Panel.

Last year the Council operated the Appointments Panel for the first time. As envisaged, documentation was circulated by officers prior to the election period. This information comprised:

(a)        A pre-election pro rata exemplification table;

(b)        A pro rata advice sheet;

(c)        Counsel opinion on calculating pro rata;

(d)        New Group Constitution Forms;

(e)        Individual group member forms;

(f)         Terms of Reference of the Panel;

(g)        A blank Committee nominations sheet (showing previous years nominations);

(h)        A blank outside organisations sheet for council appointed bodies; and

(i)         Vice Chairman nomination forms (as appropriate).

The Standing Panel had taken comments of members and took the view that the Panel operated successfully last year and should continue this year and had recommended accordingly.

It was noted that the allocation of Chairmanships and vice-chairmanships and outside organisations was suspended for the period of one year (except for sections 6(a) to (c)) to allow the new system to operate. The Standing Panel was asked to review this element in the light of operational experience and had taken the view that, as they were recommending the continuance of the Appointments Panel, the suspension of the protocol (in part) should continue for a further period until a review could be undertaken in the following year. This would enable officers to bring forward proposals for rescinding of the protocol linked to the inclusion of a ‘statement of principles’ within the Panels Terms of Reference of the Appointments Panel which would have the effect of limiting the scope of its recommendations to Council on Chairmanships, Vice Chairmanship and Outside Body positions.

The Standing Panel noted that the appointment of the Vice Chairman of Council was governed by Article 5 of the Constitution. Last year it was agreed that no changes would be made to the nomination process save that nomination forms would come to the Appointments Panel.

The Standing Panel also suggested that two dates be set aside for the Appointments Panel, Thursday 10 May and Tuesday 15 May 2012 and had recommended accordingly.

The Committee accepted the Scrutiny Standing Panels proposals as set out and commend them to Council.

            RESOLVED:

(1)        That the Appointments Panel continue to operate without changes to its terms of reference and continue in operation thereafter until any further review was necessary;

(2)        That the protocol on the Allocation of Chairmanships and Vice-chairmanships and Outside Organisations (except for sections 6 (a) to (c) in the protocol - the provision for pro-rata for Chairmen) be suspended for a further period of one year and then reviewed;

(3)        That Article 5 of the Constitution (in relation to the nomination of the Vice Chairman appointment to Council) be amended by the inclusion of the following words at the end of Article 5.02 (c) “and notified each year to the Appointments Panel for consideration and onward recommendation to the Annual Council meeting” ; and

(4)        That meetings of the Appointments Panel be held on 10 and 15 May 2012 (if necessary).