Agenda item

To consider a recommendation from the Audit & Governance Committee of 11 April 2022. (to follow).

Councillors considered recommendations made by the Audit and Governance Committee with regard to meeting arrangements and the Health and Wellbeing Board.

M Hall, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee proposed recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 5 as set out in the supplement to the agenda and these were seconded by R Biggs.

R Knox, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board thanked the Audit and Governance Committee for their consideration of these issues and endorsed the recommendations.

Decision

1.          That the Health and Wellbeing Board should meet informally online as its usual way of doing business.

2.          That as a matter of course and for the duration of their appointment the co-opted members of the Health and Wellbeing Board should be given a dispensation from attending meetings in person.

3.          That delegated authority be given to the Director of Public Health, after consultation with the Health and Wellbeing Board at informal online meetings, to make all decisions within the terms of reference of the Board.

5.     That the above be subject to a review after 1 year.

R Biggs, Vice-chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee proposed recommendation 4 as set out in the supplement to the agenda and as set out below and this was seconded by S Cocking:

4.          That the Chief Executive be given delegated authority:

(a)       In exceptional circumstances and after consultation with the relevant chair, to convene informal online meetings of the Full Council, the Cabinet or any committee or sub-committee.

(b)       After consulting members at informal online meetings to make any decision (save those that cannot by law be exercised by an officer) taking into account the views expressed by Members about the decision that they would have been minded to make had it been possible to hold a formal decision making meeting in person.

Views were expressed by members both against and in support of the recommendation.  M Hall noted that there had been differing views expressed by members of the Audit and Governance Committee and this was the reason for dealing with the recommendation separately.

In accordance with procedure rule 19.5, a recorded vote was taken.

Those who voted in favour of the recommendation:-

Cllrs: P Batstone, B Bawden, D Beer, R Biggs, S Cocking, R Hughes, P Kimber, J Orrell and M Rennie.

Those who voted against the recommendation:-

Cllrs: A Alford, J Andrews, M Barron, P Barrow, S Bartlett, D Bolwell, A Brenton, C Brooks, P Brown, R Bryan, A Canning, K Clayton, T Cook, T Coombs, J Dunseith, B Ezzard, T Ferrari, S Flower, L Fry, S Gibson, B Goringe, D Gray, P Harrison, J Haynes, B Heatley, R Hope, N Ireland, S Jespersen, C Jones, A Kerby, R Knox, N Lacey-Clarke, H Legg, C Lugg, L Miller, L O’Leary, E Parker, M Parkes, A Parry, M Penfold, B Pipe, V Pothecary, B Quayle, B Ridout, M Roberts, M Roe, D Shortell, J Somper, A Starr, G Suttle, D Tooke, D Walsh, P Wharf, K Wheller, S Williams and J Worth.

Those who abstained:-

Cllrs: R Adkins, G Carr-Jones, S Christopher, M Hall, R Legg, C Sutton and B Trite.

Following a recorded vote, 9 for, 56 against and 7 abstentions, the recommendation was LOST.