Agenda item

To consider any business, which by reason of special circumstances, should in the opinion of the Chair be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

On this occasion, and by reason of special circumstances, the Chair allowed two separate items of urgent business to be considered under this item.

Tabled before each member was a paper outlining the two items of business to be considered.

1.       Dispensation sought for non-attendance of Councillor Sarah Pugh at meetings for a period in excess of six consecutive months

Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 required councillors to attend at least one meeting of the Council or act as an appointed representative of the Council every six month period, unless the failure to attend was due to a reason pre-approved by the authority.

Councillor Sarah Pugh last attended a meeting of Council on 23 May 2023. She was planning on attending this meeting; however, due to unforeseen personal circumstances was unable to attend and had given her apologies for absence.

If the ‘reserve’ Council meeting was not convened on 21 November 2023, Councillor Pugh may face automatic removal from office due to failing to attend a council meeting within six consecutive months. She was not appointed to any other statutory committees and it was not known whether she would be required to attend a meeting of the outside body she had been appointed to within this timeframe.

On the motion of Councillor Roger Dicker, Chair of the Council seconded by Councillor Pat Hanlon, Vice Chair of the Council, it was put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, a dispensation for the non-attendance of Councillor Sarah Pugh at meetings for a period in excess of six consecutive months by reason of unforeseen personal circumstances be approved and that the situation be reviewed at the next ordinary meeting of Council, as necessary.

2.       Appointment of Vice-Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee

As required by the Constitution, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee (PASC) were appointed at the Annual Meeting of Council for the ensuing year.

On 23 May 2023, Councillor Andy Neal was elected Vice-Chair of PASC for the 2023 to 2024 municipal year. Whilst he would remain a full member of the Committee, Councillor Neal had within the last few days before the Council meeting decided to resign from the role of Vice-Chair.

Under Part 4d, paragraph 5.3 of the PASC section of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules within the Constitution, the Council was required to fill the vacancy at the next ordinary meeting of Council. Nominations were therefore sought at this meeting to appoint a new Vice-Chair of PASC.

The Chair called upon Councillor Victor Lukaniuk, Deputy Leader and Leader of the Independents Group to make his nomination for the appointment of Vice-Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Lukaniuk duly nominated Councillor Frank Stennett. The Chair sought further nominations and Councillor Beccy Hopfensperger nominated Councillor Ian Houlder.

There being no further nominations, a vote was taken on each nomination. With the votes being 31 votes for Councillor Frank Stennett and 9 votes for Councillor Ian Houlder, with no abstentions, the Chair

Declared:

That Councillor Frank Stennett be elected Vice-Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2023 to 2024 municipal year.