Motion from Councillor James Watson
Council resolves that from the date when general membership of Committees is next determined that:
(i) the number of Executive members sitting on any one regulatory committee is limited to less than half the total number of Executive members and;
(ii) the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council cannot be a member of a regulatory committee.
Minutes:
a) Motion from Councillor James Watson:
Council resolves that from the date when general membership of Committees is next determined that:
(i) the number of Executive members sitting on any one regulatory committee is limited to less than half the total number of Executive members and;
(ii) the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council cannot be a member of a regulatory committee.
Councillor James Watson moved the motion and explained that it was based on his experiences of sitting on Growth Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Committee’s review of sale of land at Park Avenue in Glapwell.
Councillor James Watson added that as he understood it, a developer approached the Council to purchase the piece of land to aid his planning application. The developer was told to approach the Council again if planning permission was granted. The planning application came before Planning Committee in February 2020 and a vote was taken to grant the permission. An Executive Member in attendance voted in favour of granting the permission, and another Executive Member in attendance stopped a planning officer from speaking on it.
Councillor James Watson believed this was not appropriate and created a conflict of interest. He concluded by stating that many other Councils managed to keep a distance between Executive Members and regulatory Committees, and his motion was an attempt to do the same at Bolsover District Council.
Councillor Ross Walker seconded the motion and used his right to speak by stating his belief that the idea behind the motion was very good and would allow the Council to move forward.
Councillor Ross Walker added a request that a recorded vote be taken for approval of the motion. The Chair reminded him that the time to discuss the vote and its operation would come after Members had spoken on the motion.
Councillor Duncan McGregor spoke on the motion and reminded Members that the Leader of the Council had previously stated he would look at meeting schedules, remuneration and statistics as part of the preparation for the 2023 elections and consult on it in 2021. However, the Coronavirus pandemic and Government guidelines on working from home had meant that the Leader had begun to investigate this now from a different perspective.
Councillor Duncan McGregor continued by stating that he was also addressing motion b) from Councillor Peter Roberts in his response. He added that some staff and Members were very reluctant to return to the office in the midst of the pandemic, so as part of the Leader’s investigations, he had asked Councillor Duncan McGregor and the Council’s Directors to assess the benefits to the Council of continued working from home.
Councillor Duncan McGregor advised that with all of this in mind, he was proposing a comprehensive review of the democratic process of Bolsover District Council. This was to include remotely attended meetings, the encouraging of Scrutiny members to play a greater part in their own geographical area, more detailed agendas with reports, the timings of meetings and the freedom to reschedule meetings. The review was also to include commissioning an Independent Remuneration Panel, and consideration of a return to the committee style of governance which would give Members the power to decide as well as recommend.
He added that a full report of the resource implications of this proposal would be prepared, and reports would begin to come forward for discussion by Autumn 2020. These reports would include information on participation in community activities, accessibility to the public, voting records, and attendance records. The draft proposals would be consulted on with all group leaders, and would be influenced by any relevant Government legislation including any proposal or white paper on Local Government reform/unitary status.
AMENDMENT
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.6, Councillor Duncan McGregor moved an amendment to motion a) proposing that this Council has a comprehensive review of the Democratic processes of Bolsover District Council. He explained that as a consequence of this amendment, he would not support the Councillor Peter Roberts motion b) because those proposals would be dealt with under the Democratic processes review.
Councillor Ray Heffer seconded the amendment and reserved the right to speak.
The Chair invited Members to speak on the amendment.
Councillor Sandra Peake believed the amendment was excellent and would show that the Council could adapt in changing times.
Councillor Deborah Watson stated she would support the amendment and looked forward to discussing the review with the Leader of the Council and Councillor Duncan McGregor.
Councillor Duncan McGregor was invited to speak to exercise his right of reply. He spoke in favour of his amendment and stated that he hoped some of his background information had allayed the concerns of Councillor James Watson and Councillor Peter Roberts. He added that he had long held the view that returning to the Committee system would allow all Members to play more of a role in democratic voting, and it would make Members more accountable to the public.
The Chair stated that he would be departing from protocol as he was aware that the second motion on the agenda from Councillor Peter Roberts had been referred to and Councillor Peter Roberts requested to speak to clarify his motion and the consequence of the amendment. Councillor Peter Roberts spoke on the amendment and stated that he had talked to a number of Council officers about working from home, and they had indicated they would like to continue working from home because it made travel arrangements for those living from long distances a lot easier. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that Cllr Peter Robert’s motion would be dealt with separately as the next item.
Councillor Steve Fritchley (Leader of the Council) spoke on the amendment and stated he had already asked Directors, Heads of Service and Managers to look closely at the way the Council operates in terms of working from home.
Councillor Ross Walker spoke on the amendment and asked if the review would include looking at times of meetings to allow Members with full time jobs more chance to attend. Councillor Duncan McGregor explained that this would be included.
As mover of the original motion, Councillor James Watson exercised his right to reply. He referred to Councillor Duncan McGregor stating that group leaders would be consulted with on the review, and felt it was very important that all factions of the Council be included in this.
Councillor Duncan McGregor responded by stating that the makeup of the Committee or the group that would consider the review would be inclusive. He added that all Groups would be involved.
As a recorded vote had been requested, the Chair advised that three Members were required for this request to be granted. The Chair, confirming this requirement was met, stated that a recorded vote would be taken on the amendment.
For the motion – 25 (Councillors Derek Adams, Rose Bowler, Jane Bryson, Dexter Bullock, Jim Clifton, Paul Cooper, David Dixon, Maxine Dixon, Mary Dooley, David Downes, Steve Fritchley, Ray Heffer, Andrew Joesbury, Chris Kane, Duncan McGregor, Clive Moesby, Tom Munro, Evonne Parkin, Graham Parkin, Sandra Peake, Liz Smyth, Janet Tait, Rita Turner, Deborah Watson and Jen Wilson.)
Against the motion – 4
(Councillors Tracey Cannon, Dan Salt, Ross Walker and James Watson.)
Abstentions – 5
(Councillors Anne Clarke, Nick Clarke, Tricia Clough, Tom Kirkham and Peter Roberts.)
The Chair indicated that the amended motion had been carried and would now be voted on as the substantive motion. On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was carried.
It was RESOLVED that that this Council has a comprehensive review of the Democratic processes of Bolsover District Council.
(Monitoring Officer)