Agenda item

The Leader of the Council will present the report regarding:

(a)        Notice of Constitution of Political Groups, Group Leaders and Deputies;

(b)        Appointments made by the Leader to the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Outside Organisations carrying out Executive Functions;

(c)        Membership, Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels (Non-Executive Bodies);

(d)        Appointments to Outside Organisations carrying out Council, regulatory or non-Cabinet Functions.

The Council will need to vote on (c) and (d) where the number of nominations exceed the number of places available.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr C Whitbread, reported on the appointments which he had made to the Cabinet and Outside Organisations carrying out Executive Functions for 2023/24. Furthermore, he also reported the recommendations of the Appointment Panel in relation to the membership, chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels (non-executive bodies), along with the Outside Organisations carrying out Council, Regulatory or non-Cabinet Functions. The Council voted on any appointments where the number of nominations exceeded the number of places available.

Some of the outstanding nominations for committee places from the political groups were made at the meeting, and the Council noted that any outstanding nominations after tonight would be reported at the Council meeting in June. It was also noted that the Appointments Panel was making recommendations on the membership of the Scrutiny Committees for the first time.

The independent Member, S Murray, had requested a seat on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2023/24. The Loughton Residents Association was prepared to give up a seat on the Committee to Cllr S Murray if the membership of the Committee was extended to 17. This would represent a departure from the pro rata requirements and such a deviation would require that no Member of the Council voted against the proposal. This proposal was carried without dissent, and Cllr S Murray thanked the Council for allowing him to sit on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for the forthcoming municipal year.

            Resolved:

            (1)        That, in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Local Government    (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, the constitution of the political groups be agreed as set out in Appendix 1;

            (2)        That details of appointments made by the Leader of the Council for       Cabinet members carrying out Executive functions as set out in Appendix 2 to          this report be received;

            (3)        That the Membership, Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of         Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels (non-Executive bodies) be approved          as set out at Appendix 3 to this report with any outstanding nominations       reported at the meeting;

            (4)        That the group representatives for the purposes of notifying substitute      members for meetings be confirmed as follows:

(a)            Conservative Group:

• Councillor C. Whitbread (Group Leader);

• Councillor N. Bedford (Deputy Group Leader);

• Councillor S. Kane; and

• Councillor A. Patel;

(b)            Green Party Group:

• Councillor S. Heap (Group Leader); and

• Councillor E. Gabbett (Deputy Group Leader);

(c)            Liberal Democrat Group:

• Councillor J. M. Whitehouse (Group Leader); and

• Councillor J. H. Whitehouse (Deputy Group Leader);

(d)            Loughton Residents Association Group:

• Councillor C. P. Pond (Group Leader); and

• Councillor D. Wixley (Deputy Group Leader); and

(e)            Grange Hill Independent Community Group:

• Councillor D Barlow (Group Leader); and

Councillor L Morgan (Deputy Leader);

            (5)        That appointments to outside organisations carrying out Council            regulatory or non-Cabinet functions, as set out at Appendix 4 to this report be   approved;

            (6)        That the appointments to be made by the Leader of the Council to        outside organisations carrying out Executive functions, as set out at Appendix            5 be received; and

            (7)        That Mr Wyn Marshall be re-appointed as a non-voting, co-opted          member of the Stronger Communities Select Committee for the 2023/24     municipal year.