Agenda item

Review of the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman

8 November 2012

 

The Court of Aldermen has recently considered the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman. The last time this was reviewed was in 2005/06 as part of the comprehensive review of the Mayoralty and it is now being proposed that a further review be carried out.

 

This would include consideration of the current links with the magistracy and would look generally at the issues surrounding pre-election qualifications for Aldermen. To this end, both the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Policy & Resources Committee have established a small working party of Members specifically to carry out the review with any findings or conclusions being reported to those Committees in the first instance.

 

The Working Party’s terms of reference are “to undertake a review of the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman” and its proposed constitution is as follows:

·        The Chairmen of the Privileges Committee of Aldermen and the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen

·        The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee

·        The Chief Commoner

·        Two Aldermen appointed by the Court of Aldermen (Alderman Ian Luder and Alderman David Graves have been appointed)

·        Two Members of the Policy & Resources Committee appointed by the Policy & Resources Committee (Simon Duckworth and Deputy Douglas Barrow have been appointed)

·        Two Members appointed by the Court who are not Members of the Policy & Resources Committee.

 

The two vacancies on the Working Party which it is proposed should be filled by the Court (from Members not on the Policy & Resources Committee) have already been advertised to Members, in advance of and subject to the Court agreeing to make the appointments. This is to ensure that the Working Party is able to commence its work without having to wait until after the next meeting of the Court in 2013.

 

It is recommended that two Members who are not Members of the Policy & Resources Committee be appointed on the Working Party set up by the Court of Aldermen and the Policy & Resources Committee to review the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman for the life of the Working Party.

 

Minutes:

The Court proceeded to consider Item no 14(c) concerning the review of the criteria for the eligibility to become an Alderman (in advance of the ballot for appointments in relation to that item).

 

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE 

(Mark John Boleat)

8 November 2012

 

Review of the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman 

 

The Court of Aldermen has recently considered the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman. The last time this was reviewed was in 2005/06 as part of the comprehensive review of the Mayoralty and it is now being proposed that a further review be carried out.

 

This would include consideration of the current links with the magistracy and would look generally at the issues surrounding pre-election qualifications for Aldermen. To this end, both the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen and the Policy & Resources Committee have established a small working party of Members specifically to carry out the review with any findings or conclusions being reported to those Committees in the first instance.

 

The Working Party’s terms of reference are “to undertake a review of the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman” and its proposed constitution is as follows:

·         The Chairmen of the Privileges Committee of Aldermen and the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen

·         The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee

·         The Chief Commoner

·         Two Aldermen appointed by the Court of Aldermen (Alderman Ian Luder and Alderman David Graves have been appointed)

·         Two Members of the Policy & Resources Committee appointed by the Policy & Resources Committee (Simon Duckworth and Deputy Douglas Barrow have been appointed)

·         Two Members appointed by the Court who are not Members of the Policy & Resources Committee.

 

 

The two vacancies on the Working Party which it is proposed should be filled by the Court (from Members not on the Policy & Resources Committee) have already been advertised to Members, in advance of and subject to the Court agreeing to make the appointments. This is to ensure that the Working Party is able to commence its work without having to wait until after the next meeting of the Court in 2013.

 

It is recommended that two Members who are not Members of the Policy & Resources Committee be appointed on the Working Party set up by the Court of Aldermen and the Policy & Resources Committee to review the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman for the life of the Working Party.

 

Read and agreed to.

 

The Chairman undertook that a report on the results of the Working Party’s reviewof the criteria for eligibility to become an Alderman would be submitted to the Court of Common Council in due course.