Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Hall - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Thomas Cattermole, Head of Executive and Member Services 020 8937 5446, Email: thomas.cattermole@brent.gov.uk
Media
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence for the meeting from Members. Additional documents: Minutes: The Mayor advised that direct apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Daly, Denselow, Ezeajughi, Hirani, Mahmood, Mashari, Maurice, Miller, Naheerathan, Nerva and Shahzad.
An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Conneely, who was present for item 4 on the agenda. |
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Declarations of Interest Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no interests declared by Members. |
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Representation of Political Groups on Committees PDF 90 KB To receive a report from the Council’s Chief Legal Officer detailing the recent changes to the Council’s political groups and subsequent changes to be made to the representation of political groups on the Council’s Committees. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report from the Chief Legal Officer, which detailed a recent change in political representation on the Council and had resulted in the need for a review of the representation of political groups on committees.
Members noted that the change in political representation had involved the two members of the Conservative Group joining the Brent Conservative Group, meaning that group (comprised of six members and led by Councillor Warren) now formed the single opposition group on the Council. Given the change in membership, Council had been required to undertake a review of the representation of political groups on committees as soon as was practicable. As the next scheduled meeting of Full Council was not due to take place until 22 January 2018, the Mayor had agreed to convene an Extraordinary Council meeting in order to fulfil the necessary requirement for a review.
Councillor Butt, when introducing the report, expressed concern at the length of time it had taken opposition members to come together to form a unified group, given the role of the opposition. In addition concerns were raised about the costs associated with needing to convene an Extraordinary Council meeting for the purposes of having to undertake the review.
Whilst recognising the creation of a unified opposition group had taken time to achieve, Councillor Warren highlighted that this had not prevented his members from seeking to continue holding the Administration to account. In terms of the decision to convene an Extraordinary meeting, he advised this had not been as a result of any specific request from his Group.
In terms of the outcome of the review, following a vote by show of hands it was unanimously RESOLVED:
(1) that the size of each committee to which the political balance rules would apply should remain unchanged;
(2) that where the rules of political balance apply, all opposition group seats on committees should now be allocated to the Brent Conservative Group;
(3) that as a result of (2) above appointments to committees be made giving effect to the wishes of the political group allocated the seats;
(4) to note that the political balance on sub-committees would be reviewed at the next meeting of the General Purposes Committee. |
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To agree any appointments to Committees and appointment of Chairs/Vice Chairs (tabled). Additional documents: Minutes: Given the change in political representation on the Council and outcome of the subsequent review, the Mayor referred Members to the supplementary pack circulated in advance of the meeting, which contained a list of required changes to appointments on Council Committees, Sub Committees and other bodies.
It was RESOLVED that the following appointments be approved:
(1)
Resignation of Councillor Dixon as a Full Member of
the Audit and Audit Advisory Committee with Councillor Krupa Sheth
to take her place as a Full Member on both Committees.
(2) Resignation of Councillor Naheerathan as a Full Member of the Audit and Audit Advisory Committee with Councillor Perrin to take his place as a Full Member on both Committees
(3) Resignation of Councillor Maurice as substitute Member of the Audit and Audit Advisory Committees with Councillor Kansagra to take his place as a substitute Member.
(4)
To confirm the appointment of Councillor Colwill as
the Brent Conservative Group’s Full Member on the Standards
Committee, with Councillor Kansagra continuing as substitute
Member.
(5) To confirm the appointment of Councillor Kansagra as the Brent Conservative Group’s Full Member on the Council’s Corporate Parenting Committee.
(9) To confirm the appointment of Councillor Colwill as the Brent Conservative Group’s full Member on the Council’s Health & Wellbeing Board, with Councillor Kansagra continuing as the Group’s substitute Member.
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Urgent Business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Additional documents: Minutes: The Mayor stated that there was no urgent business to be considered at the meeting. |