Agenda item

The Council considered a report concerning its non-executive and regulatory Committee arrangements for the Council Year May 2025 to May 2026 and associated annual business. The Council was also required to formally undertake a statutory review of the political proportionality arrangements (as triggered under section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989) in respect of bodies that are required to be politically proportionate, following the recent change in political group membership.

Councillor Kevin Guy, before moving the recommendations, announced his new Cabinet structure and portfolios as set out below;

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss, it was

RESOLVED to

1.  Approve the structure for non-executive and regulatory decision making and Policy Development & Scrutiny working;

2.  Accordingly, appoint those bodies with membership, terms of reference and delegated powers as set out in the Constitution, noting the amendment to the Restructuring Implementation Committee Terms of Reference as set out in paragraph 4.2 of the report and amendments to the Health & Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference, as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

3.  Approve the allocation of seats on those Committees and Panels (such seats to be filled in accordance with the nominations made by the political groups), as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

4.  Appoint to chair each committee and panel those Councillors as may from time to time be nominated by the political group to whom the chairmanship of the body is allocated;

5.  Authorise the Monitoring Officer to fill any casual vacancies in membership of all the bodies constituted and vacancy in the office of Chair of such bodies in accordance with the wishes of the political groups;

6.  Determine the bodies on which co-opted and independent members are to have seats, as either voting or non-voting members and appoint such members accordingly;

7.  Confirm the continuing B&NES membership on Avon Fire Authority of Councillors Paul May, Onkar Saini and Robin Moss;

8.  Note the arrangements for the conduct of Cabinet business;

9.  Note the urgent executive decisions that have been taken in the last municipal year;

10.Note the activity of the Member Advocates;

11.Instruct the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with Group Leaders, to make appointments on non-executive outside bodies and note that the Leader or Cabinet Members will do so for executive outside bodies, where such vacancies arise;

12.Note the Police and Crime Panel’s annual report;

13.Note the calendar of meeting dates that has been prepared up to May 2026 which is available on the Council’s website;

14.Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make and publicise any amendment to the Council’s Constitution required, or take any other necessary action, as a result of decisions taken at this meeting on this and other reports within the agenda, or otherwise as required by law.

[Notes;

1. The above successful resolution was carried with 45 Councillors voting in favour and 2 Councillors abstaining.]