Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Governance attached.

Council received a report of the Director of Governance which outlined minor changes to the membership of various committees until the Annual Meeting in May 2021.

It was proposed by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Deputy Leader Councillor Mick Titherington, that Councillor Chris Lomax replace Councillor Mick Higgins on the Planning Committee, that Councillor Sue Jones replace Councillor Chris Lomax on the Scrutiny Committee and that the vacant Labour Group seat on the Standards Committee be filled by Councillor Sue Jones. 

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Caleb Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Ange Turner, to remove Councillor Barrie Yates from the Planning Committee following allegations of unacceptable conduct and harassment of other committee members.

Councillor Paul Wharton-Hardman proposed an additional amendment to the substantive motion, seconded by the Leader Councillor Paul Foster, to remove himself from the Appeals Committee following his resignation from the Conservative Group.

There was substantial debate between members regarding the removal of Councillor Barrie Yates from the Planning Committee.

Many members condemned the alleged behavior but the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Margaret Smith, felt that approving Councillor Yates’ expulsion from the committee would be premature and should be subject to the outcome of the ongoing Standards Committee investigation.

Votes were taken on each proposal individually and were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    Councillor Chris Lomax replace Councillor Mick Higgins on the Planning Committee;

2.    Councillor Sue Jones replace Councillor Chris Lomax on the Scrutiny Committee;

3.    Councillor Sue Jones be appointed to the vacant seat on the Standards Committee; and

4.    Councillor Paul Wharton-Hardman be removed from the Appeals Committee, with a replacement from the Conservative Group nominated at the next Council meeting.

On the amendment to remove Councillor Barrie Yates from the Planning Committee the vote was recorded as follows:

FOR:Councillors Adams, Alty, Bell, Blow, Bylinski Gelder, Donoghue, Evans, Flannery, Forrest, Foster, Hancock, Higgins, Howarth, Jones, Lomax, Martin, Melia, Sharples, Shaw, Suthers, Titherington, Caleb Tomlinson, Matthew Tomlinson, Trafford, Turner, Watkinson, Wharton-Hardman and Wooldridge;

AGAINST:Councillors Bretherton, Campbell, Chisholm, Clark, Coulton, Mary Green, Michael Green, Hesketh, Hughes, Marsh, Moon, Mort, Mullineaux, Ogilvie, Rainsbury, Margaret Smith, Phil Smith, Thurlbourn, Walton, Watson and Yates.

The Deputy Mayor declared that the amendment was carried (For: 28 Against: 21).