Council and democracy

The Council are asked to agree any changes to the appointments made to committees and outside bodies, statutory and other panels, as requested by Group Leaders.

The Mayor enquired whether Group Leaders wished for any changes to be made to the appointments previously made by Committees and Outside Bodies, statutory and other panels.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Gledhill, informed the chamber he had the following changes to make:

To appoint Councillor Anderson as Chair of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To appoint Councillor Redsell as Chair of the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To appoint Councillor Ralph as Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To appoint Councillor Spillman as Chair of the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To appoint Councillor Rigby as Chair of the Corporate Parenting Committee.

To remove Councillor Halden from the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To propose Councillor Allen as Chair to the Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To propose Councillor J Kent as Vice Chair to the General Services Committee.

To remove Councillor Halden from the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To remove Councillor Redsell from the Corporate Parenting Committee.

Councillor J Kent, Leader of the Labour Party, informed the chamber he had the following change which had already been stated by Councillor Gledhill for himself to be appointed as the Vice Chair to the General Services Committee.

Councillor J Kent asked for advice on the how the removal of existing chairs from overview and scrutiny committees took take place without notice and no discussion beforehand. Ian Hunt, Monitoring Officer, stated that this action was permissible.

Councillor Byrne, Leader of the Thurrock Independent Group, informed the chamber he would be appointed onto the General Services Committee and would gift the seat on the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force to Councillor Allen.

Councillor Massey, Independent Member, thanked the Administration for the gifted seat on the Licensing Committee, General Services and Lower Thames Crossing Task Force and proposed that Councillor Allen be appointed on the Standards and Audit Committee.

Councillor Allen, Independent Member, stated he would confirm his appointment of the seat on the Standard and Audit Committee after this committee.

Councillor J Kent questioned as no notice had been provided could alternative nominations be made. The Mayor stated that other nominations could be put forward and these posts would be put to the vote.

At 9.01pm, Councillor Gerrish called a Point of Order and questioned what constitution rule deemed it possible for incumbent chairs to be removed. Ian Hunt, Monitoring Officer, stated that it was Constitution Procedure Rule 27.4, Appointment of Members to Committees. Councillor Gerrish stated that this procedure rule did not mention the removal of chairs and vice chairs.

At 9.04pm the meeting was temporarily adjourned.

At 9.13pm the meeting restarted.

Ian Hunt, Monitoring Officer, referred Members to Chapter 4, Paragraph 3.1 Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the constitution that it was the function of the Council to appoint chairs of committees also the Annual Council had an obligation to set the appointments of chairs. At every Annual Council membership would be set for each committee for the forthcoming year but Chapter 2 of the constitution allowed the Council to appoint Members to each committee at the next convenient meeting thereafter.

Councillor Holloway referred to an email sent from the Monitoring Officer on the 23 April 2020 stating as there had been no AGM, the positions of chairs, vice chairs and members on committees would remain the same and seemed to be contradicting his own guidance and asked for further clarification.

Ian Hunt stated the provisions under the meeting legislation under the COVID legislation stated that where there were appointments already in place these could be carried forward but this did not stop the Council from making any changes.

The Mayor then conducted a vote on the following seats:

A vote took place between Councillor Ralph and Councillor Holloway for the chair of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Ralph would take up that position.

A vote took place between Councillor Allen and Councillor Kerin for the chair of Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Allen would take up that position.

A vote took place between Councillor Redsell and Councillor Fletcher for the chair of Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Redsell would take up that position.

A vote took place between Councillor Anderson and Councillor Okunade for the chair of Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Anderson would take up that position.

A vote took place between Councillor Spillman and Councillor Worrall for the chair of Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Spillman would take up that position.

A vote took place between Councillor Rigby and Councillor Okunade for the chair of Corporate Parenting Committee. The result of that vote was that Councillor Rigby would take up that position.

Members confirmed Councillor Baker as Vice Chair of Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members agreed for Councillor Van Day to take up the post of Vice Chair on Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Members agreed for Councillor J Kent to take up the post of Vice Chair on General Services Committee.

There remained a vacancy for Vice Chair on the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chief Executive clarified these appointments to Members.