Agenda item

To consider nominations for Chairs and Vice Chairs of Committees for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Members gave consideration to the submitted nominations for Chairs and Vice-Chairs and the Chair sought further nominations from the floor.

The following positions were contested and put to the vote as follows:

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Chair of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee, nominations had been received for both Councillor Vicky Wapplington and Councillor Deborah Watson.  Councillor Vicky Wapplington was appointed as Chair to the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee, nominations were received for both Councillor Amanda Davis and Councillor Rita Turner.  Councillor Amanda Davis was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Chair of the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee, nominations were received for both Councillor Sally Renshaw and Councillor Will Fletcher.  Councillor Sally Renshaw was appointed as Chair to the Local Growth Scrutiny Committee.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Finance & Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee nominations were received for both Councillor Duncan McGregor and Councillor Justin Gilbody.   Councillor Duncan McGregor was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Finance & Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee.

·       Councillor Watson suggested that a secret ballot to appoint the Chair to the Licensing Committee should be held and following receipt of nominations a public vote was held. A vote was held on the appointment of Chair of the Licensing Committee nominations were received for both Councillor Duncan McGregor and Councillor Emma Stevenson. Councillor Duncan McGregor was appointed as Chair of the Licensing Committee.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee, nominations were received for both Councillor Amanda Davis and Councillor Emma Stevenson.  Councillor Amanda Davis was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Member Development Working Group, nominations were received for both Councillor Mary Dooley and Councillor Justin Gilbody.  Councillor Mary Dooley was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Member Development Working Group.

·       A vote was held on the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee, nominations were received for both Councillor Vicky Wapplington and Councillor Justin Gilbody.  Councillor Vicky Wapplington was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee.

Councillor Watson commented that the Planning Advisory Service guidance stated that Executive Members should not sit on the Planning Committee and guidance for Scrutiny Committees suggested that Scrutiny Committees should include opposition members as Chairs and Vice-Chairs.  It was confirmed that this was just guidance and it was up to Council to decide its appointments.

Councillor Sandra Peake also queried whether the appointments of Chairs and Vice-Chairs should be decided as the memberships to committees had not been finalised.  It was confirmed that it was important to confirm these appointments and it was likely that those submitting nominations already knew who may be sitting on those committees.

There had been only one nomination submitted for the other positions being considered.  Any bodies not referred to would appoint the Chair at the first meeting.

RESOLVED that the following be appointed Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the

          2025/26 Municipal Year:

          Audit Committee

          Chair – Councillor Catherine Tite

          Vice-Chair – Independent Appointed Person

          Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee

          Chair – Councillor Ashley Taylor

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Anne Clarke

          Customer Services Scrutiny Committee

          Chair – Councillor Vicky Wapplington

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Amanda Davis

          Local Growth Scrutiny Committee

          Chair – Councillor Sally Renshaw

          Vice-Chair – Tom Kirkham

          Finance and Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee

          Chair – Councillor David Bennett

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Duncan McGregor

          Licensing Committee(s)

          Chair – Councillor Duncan McGregor

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Amanda Davis

          Planning Committee

          Chair – Councillor John Ritchie

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Catherine Tite

          Local Plan Implementation Advisory Group

          Chair – Councillor John Ritchie

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Catherine Tite

*Planning Committee and Local Plan Implementation Advisory Group share the same membership, Chair and Vice-Chair.

          Standards Committee

          Chair – Mrs Ruth Jaffray

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Vicky Wapplington

          Member Development Working Group

          Chair – Councillor Catherine Jeffery

          Vice-Chair – Councillor Mary Dooley