Issue - meetings

This report is being submitted at the request of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support, Councillor Francis Oppler.  It seeks the Council’s views on conducting a review of governance arrangements moving from the current Cabinet arrangements to a Committee style structure.  The report highlights the scope for a review process and how this could be taken forward.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance, Councillor Oppler, presented a report that sought Members’ views on whether the Council should conduct a review of governance arrangements moving from the current Cabinet arrangement to a new Committee style structure.  The report highlighted the scope for a review process and how this could be taken forward.

            Councillor Oppler outlined his personal view that a Committee style structure did have the advantage of involving the maximum number of members in decision making and provided more opportunity for the voice of members to be heard.  A review of this nature would provide an opportunity for all political groups to work together and to come up with a Committee system that would not only work for the Council but for all residents of Arun too.  Having proposed the recommendations in the report, Councillor Dr Walsh then duly seconded them.

            In discussing the recommendations, many Councillors welcomed the opportunity for review, though some concerns were expressed over the timeline in place for concluding this work.  It was acknowledged that there was considerable work involved with a review of this nature and whether this could be achieved in time for a new Committee system to be introduced in May 2020.   Concern was also expressed that the cost of undertaking and implementing this work had not been included in the report.

Despite the short timescale in place, it was hoped that the Working Party would be able to scrutinise thoroughly all the issues in determining a new decision-making process, looking at the upside and downside benefits.

Having concluded to support the recommendations in the report and the establishment of a Governance Working Party to take forward this specific task, the following membership nominations were put forward as follows:

Liberal Democrats – 4 Members – Councillors Mrs Gregory, Oppler, Stanley and Dr Walsh

Conservatives – 4 Members – Councillors Bower, Charles, Gunner and Mrs Pendleton.

Independents – 1 Member – Councillor Dixon

Green – 1 Member – Councillor Ms Thurston

Other Independents – Councillor Mrs Daniells

            The Council

                        RESOLVED – That

(1)          A review of governance arrangements being conducted is agreed;

(2)          A Governance Working Party is established to undertake this review based on the following terms: